Adult House Mouse

[shirl]

I keep changing my mind on this one! Just seen in the garden at lunch time, near the juvenile rat burrow. First thoughts are adult house mouse, long tail, very large pink ears, pink feet, grey-ish brown with lighter underside. It was foraging around for quite a while and much more relaxed than the juvenile rat which frequents the same area (all our rats so far have been light grey in colour). What do our experts think?




Shirl

[Dogghound]

Its a juvenile rat.

[shirl]

I wasn't too sure, and of course it means that we could have at least 3 generations now as this one is about 2/3rds of the size of the usual juvenile rat. What fun, still I suppose it will ensure we have a good supply of food for our kestrels and owls (not forgetting neighbours cats as well - strange though they seem to catch the voles, shrews and mice and not rats!).

Shirl

[Dogghound]

I suppose the other's will be smaller an easier to manage compared to the rats. Interesting it may be from another generation or it may be a different sex? from different parents? or perhaps just a smaller individual like humans you get tall and short animals too. Sounds like you have a healthy garden shirl.

[shirl]

It is most definitely a wildlife friendly garden and I do my best to keep it that way, I will be doing some repairs to the stonework and mortar around the house this time to see if I can stop the little devils getting in the loft this year.

Interesting that when I was at Carsington last week photographing the juvenile brown rats, they were 2 different sizes and the smallest ones were brownish whereas the slighter larger ones were light grey. I wonder if the light grey colour evolves as the juveniles get older? Also the brownish coloured ones were much less nervous than the others, just like my garden ratties! As you say though, could be different sexes or from different families.

Shirl

[vole-woman]

Good pic. Is it the length of the muzzle that identifies it as rat?

[Dogghound]

Its one of the ID features yes the house mouse muzzle is shorter and sharper than the muzzle of a brown rat. The size, tail length and size, are other ways to tell. Also house mice tend to be abit darker and more grey than this rat.

[vole-woman]

Thanks.

[Helo]

The most obvious rat feature is the tail. Thick and long.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by Helo

The most obvious rat feature is the tail. Thick and long.

and generally naked.

Cheers,

Adam