Why are wood mice so tame?

[vole-woman]

I was walking the kids back from school yesterday and as I passed a garden I glanced over a wall and saw a wood mouse. The garden level was much higher than the footpath so the mouse was at my eye level. It seemed to notice me and lolloped about half-heartedly a bit, but then settled again very close to me and began eating berries. A small crowd of children gathered to watch, and still the mouse didn't seem remotely fazed.

The last time I saw a wood mouse it was a youngster and I assumed its docility was because it was so innocent of the world, ahem. But talking to other people, they report the same level of calm in the wood mice they've come across. One friend told me she'd seen one run into her cat's paws!

How come this species is so tolerant of humans? And why, given they don't seem to have much of an instinct to run away, haven't they all died out as a result???

[Dogghound]

Interesting, not something ive noticed particularly just with wood mice, their populations are so high they would never die out by predation. Perhaps cooler weather makes them more docile?

[mh68]

I`ve had quite a few Wood Mice come within a foot or so of me when i`ve been working in the garden. They do seem to have a very inquisitive nature, probably relying on their fast reactions and impressive turn of speed should whatever theyre investigating quickly become a threat.

Mark H

[vole-woman]

I suppose I'm comparing them to other rodents I've seen. Even summer wood mice always come across as slightly spaced-out.

[The Black Rabbit]

Yes. I agree.
I've had one Woodmouse hop onto one of my old swedish army boots and clean itself, whilst I was watching badgers once...!
(Though those old boots were a bit er... urm...cheesy!)
Doug

[tufftie]

I guess it depends how used to humans they are. The ones that nested (under some corrugated iron which was for reptiles) were very skittish but there was one that came over a neighbours wall and ate peanut crumbs dropped from a squirrel feeder and he was fine for me to sit and watch him, I ended up feeding him peanuts and berries! Not sure what happened to him but suspect a cat - far too many round here.