Fievel Goes West Wing? Rodent Joins Obama at White House
As President Obama lauded the progress of financial reform legislation yesterday from the White House Rose Garden, he received a little company.
Mr. Obama made an eight-minute statement yesterday to emphasize his commitment to financial reform. He was so focused, he didn't seem to notice the furry rodent that zoomed in front of the podium as he spoke.
The creature scurried from the bushes to the right of the president, just outside of the Oval Office, and dashed past Mr. Obama before ducking back into bushes at the left.
As photographers snapped pictures of the rodent, Mr. Obama stayed on message: "Over the last year, the financial industry has repeatedly tried to end this reform with hordes of lobbyists and millions of dollar in ads," he said. "Today, I think it's fair to say that these efforts have failed."
The president left the Rose Garden without taking any questions.
Rodents have been sighted at the White House before and are common in Washington. According to a wildlife biologist who talked to the Associated Press, this rodent was likely a vole.
"I would partially rule out rat," Russell Link told the AP. "That's due to the lack of a tail that is typically equal to body length."
Link, who works for the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, added: "My suspicion is it's a vole, commonly called a 'meadow mouse' out our way."
Check out a video of the rodent below.
