What has eaten these hazel nuts

Naturenutz · #1 (**permalink**) 13-05-2010, 08:54 PM

i found about 6 of these,on the edge of woodland , on a path. There were more around.Not all holes were completely circular though.Is it squirrel ,mouse,or door mouse

.i have another photo somewhere with all six .

BP Badger · #2 (**permalink**) 13-05-2010, 09:33 PM

The teeth indentation seems to go the whole way around the hole; squirrels just crack the nut in two and dormice leave a smooth hole with slight indentations around the edge, so I would say it was a wood mouse.

The Woodman · #3 (**permalink**) 13-05-2010, 10:50 PM

Wood Mouse by the way the teeth marks are at right angles to the shell - if you get what I mean!

Monkey Orchid · #4 (**permalink**) 14-05-2010, 07:09 AM

I agree, wood mouse. Bank voles make similar holes in a hazelnut, with roughly parallel tooth marks running across the cut surface of the shell, but bank voles do not as a rule leave tooth markings on the outer surface of the shell... And in your photo there clearly are tooth markings on the outer surface, which to me says wood mouse.

If it had been a common dormouse the hole would again have been similar, but the inner cut surface of the shell would have been almost smooth, and the tooth markings on the outer surface would have been more at diagonal angles. This is because after they first make the hole, they then rotate the nut and gnaw smoothly round (rather like a tin opener!).

tezzor · #5 (**permalink**) 03-08-2010, 07:48 PM

I rescued a tiny dormouse from the next door cat this evening, it is so small, I worry that it might be a baby. It can't stand up much, but falls over on it's side, though I can't see any wounds on it's little body. For the moment I've put it in a matchbox in my shed, with some seeds and cream cheese, none of which it seems interested in. Does anyone on here know what I should do now? It's getting dark and I want to know if I should just let it go free, even though it doesn't look like it will survive. Thanks

faz · #6 (**permalink**) 03-08-2010, 07:50 PM

wood mouse

tezzor · #7 (**permalink**) 03-08-2010, 08:16 PM

Re: the little dormouse I found, it's now over an hour since I found it, just been out to have a look and it's still alive, I gave a slice of banana and it seemed interested briefly. Have now lined a large flower pot with leaves and paper and put it in there for the night in the shed. I hope it's still alive tomorrow and that by then, someone with some knowledge about them will reply to let me know what to do next. It is just SO gorgeous, and I'm giving myself strict orders not to get emotionally involved, but I think it's too late!
T

Littlesparrow · #8 (**permalink**) 03-08-2010, 10:42 PM

Re. dormouse, Other thread usually to do with birds caught by cats say that cat bites carry germs, so if there are any wounds you will need to take it to the vet tomorrow for antibiotics. If it perks up tomorrow and is not in shock i would try to find a safe cat free garden to let it go, There is a list of wild life hospitals on here somewhere if needed.

tezzor · #9 (**permalink**) 03-08-2010, 11:03 PM

Thanks for that, I couldn't see any obvious sign of injury or bites, but not sure if it's back legs are ok, though that could be because it's so young. Have just read that July and August are the times most are born, if it is a baby, I've no idea how I could feed it, it's mouth is incredibly tiny, so even a syringe would be too big. Then I wouldn't know what kind of milk to give or the strength. So, I'll take your advice, if it's ok in the morning, I'll take it to the vets, and see if they can do anything. I live backing on to wheat fields, they were cut on Sunday, so I think perhaps the nest was disturbed during that, poor little things, I already got the cat away from a bigger one yesterday, it was ok and I put it in the woodpile, out of reach of the feline terror. I've never actually seen one in the flesh before, now I see two in two days, I hope there are lots of them around, they really are the most beautiful little things. Fingers crossed the little sweetheart is ok in the morning. Thanks again.

rogpow · #10 (**permalink**) 04-08-2010, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tezzor

I live backing on to wheat fields, they were cut on Sunday, so I think perhaps the nest was disturbed during that.

Hi tezzor,

Are you sure it's a dormouse and not a harvest mouse?

Dormice live in deciduous woodland, preferring hazel coppices, and this is where they nest - not in wheat fields, which is harvest mouse habitat.