Mouse or Rat?

Gem · #1 (**permalink**) 23-10-2006, 11:22 AM

Hi everyone,
I'm new here and firstly just wanted to say hi and glad I found this site. Have an abundance of wildlife in my garden and like to keep it that way!

Our squirrel felt the need to break our bird feeder thus leaving all the peanuts on the grass. I don't even mind that to be honest. Anyway, i saw movement the other day something running out and grabbing the nuts then running back into the hedge.
At first I was worried it may have been a rat, but the more I see him the more I think it may be a mouse.

It's about 10cm in body length with a longish tail, long ears and is greyish brown in colour. It's not like the rats I've seen before (by the way that come from next doors rockery not our garden lol) but it's much bigger than our little wood mice.
He is venturing out in the day time.
Any ideas? I have caught him on video camera, but not sure how to put that on here as a still.

Thanks all
Gem

wildliferescuer · #2 (**permalink**) 23-10-2006, 11:30 AM

With a body length of 10cm this is certainly not a mouse, most likely a young rat.

rha3l · #3 (**permalink**) 23-10-2006, 11:36 AM

My cat ate one of them the other day, mum said our cat carefully avoided her, settled in a comfy spot in the garden and & ate his rat. Our cat's getting on a bit now, so he doesn't often catch things, and he's too lazt to chase leaves these days.

Gem · #4 (**permalink**) 23-10-2006, 11:40 AM

HI, thanks for your reply.
Well I'm trying to figure it out, and actually the encyclopedia here sounds very much like it and they can get to 10cm in body:
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/br...ls/house_mouse

Am trying to get a photo up.

henrya · #5 (**permalink**) 23-10-2006, 11:49 AM

10cm is at the very top of the size range for House Mouse, usually found in island animals. Looking forward to the photog.

henrya

Gem · #6 (**permalink**) 23-10-2006, 01:50 PM

hi all,
Maybe I'm trying to believe what I want to, here's some not very good photos... hate to think it's a rat.. arrrghhh!

oh dear

DL · #7 (**permalink**) 23-10-2006, 01:53 PM

It will be back especialy if it was a Rat, have a good look at it - Rats dont have any hair/fur on their tails.

wildliferescuer · #8 (**permalink**) 23-10-2006, 01:55 PM

Looks like a young rat to me.

Gem · #9 (**permalink**) 23-10-2006, 01:59 PM

oooo no hehe
that's what we thought originally to be honest.. I think I was trying to convince myself it wasn't!
don't like getting anyone in to poison them, what's the best way to deal with it? leave it?

thanks all