Mystery Rodent in Warwickshire

Baractus · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 06:35 PM

Can anybody tell me what this poor little chap is please? I found it today at Kingsbury water Park in Warwickshire. The tail is about 52mm long and it weighed about 6g. I hope the images have uploaded as they should.

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 06:38 PM

Its a woodmouse.

Baractus · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 08:10 PM

Many thanks Dogghound. I'm assuming it must be a juvenile, because it is so small (6g seems tiny for a Wood Mouse). The apparent lack of big ears and bluntish snout made it look rather vole-like, but with a long tail. It was rather bedraggled though. I catch quite a few Wood Mice in my garage, but I've been totally thrown by this one!

Dogghound · #4 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 08:16 AM

Voles have a rounder more stocky face. The face is pointed. Yes 6g is very light. How accurate are your scales? to put it into perspective they are about 2g when they are born, its clear to me that this is over 6g in comparison to your hand. The amount of fur on this one and general body topography suggests its weaned.

Baractus · #5 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 10:02 AM

This is my second attempt at a reply - I don't what I did with the last one.

I've checked my scales with a variety of coins and it turns out they aren't very good at all. For example, the same coin can give a variety of readings. I will use this to explain my culinary disasters.

Next time I catch a Wood Mouse I'll have a good look at it. Thanks again.