The only truth to this old legend is that elephants get very anxious about sudden movements or movement and sounds they can’t identify. If the sound cannot be located this will signal danger to them. Any sound or movement that an elephant cannot locate would bring the same reaction. Small dogs, cats and even birds would trigger this.

At one time many people thought elephants were afraid of mice. It was believed the reason for this fear was that the mouse might get into the end of the elephant’s trunk. The idea was that the mouse might scratch the lining of the trunk or plug up the trunk so the elephant could not breathe. It is now known that none of these beliefs are true. In zoos, mice have been seen running about very near the tip of an elephant’s trunk, and the elephant did not pay any attention to them. Elephants have a very keen sense of smell, and they depend on this to warn them of danger. They may not be able to see mice on the floor, but they certainly can smell them as the mice scamper about near the tips of their trunks. The hole at the end of an elephant’s trunk would be a strange hole for a mouse. I do not believe a mouse would run into this strange hole without looking in first. By the time the mouse could have looked into the end of the trunk, the elephant would have smelled it. The elephant could then “snort” and blow out a little air, which should keep the mouse out of the trunk. This info provided by http://www.highlightskids.com/Science/ScienceQuestions/h1sciQelephantsMice.asp

I just watched Mythbusters and they tested this. The elephants backed away from the mice! So it's possible.

I agree with nelson but its only when they can see them.To see this is true try to watch Mythbusters.

Yes they are. Check out the video from the Mythbusters. It's true!!!

Yes. Just last week I saw a documentary on Elephants and they showed footage of a study done with elephants and mice. It is true they are afraid of mice.

Yes it is because the sperm of a mouse is actually longer than the sperm of an elephant. It is a whole macho thing.

I think so yeah or it could just be like on the movies.

Dumbo's Mom was and that is good enough for me ;)

mythbusters tested that and found that the elephants would do all that they could to avoid the mice

They can 'startle' elephants the same as us, after which most elephants will quickly kill the offending rodent yo...

I watched a show on TV about this they aren't afraid but they do avoid them they would walk quite a ways around a mouse to avoid it, I think it was Mythbusters but am not sure