Yes, mice can swim as a mamalian instinct, but out of the water, the weight of the wet fur can kill the mouse from exhaustion and internal injury. Rats, though, are excellent swimmers. About fear, I was exposed to water from infancy, so I had no fear,and I must have had some rudimentary skills. Still, I was sent to public lessons at the age of 5 or so. The first lesson started this way: The instructor, (the local auto mechanic, gorilla sized) would pick each kid up, and toss him ten feet up and twenty over to land in deeper water (not a pool). Like squeak recommends, for those with fear of water, it mostly worked.
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