House mice in Scotland

[~T~]

Was just thinking about this, I've never seen one though have had plenty of dealings with wood mice in houses (I tend to be the person called around my way when people find things in their house/orphaned etc). Everytime I think im gonna see one if always turns out to be a wood mouse. Yet recently when I was down south I saw loads in the London underground and some in someones house. Do other Scottish WAB users encounter them much?

[Dogghound]

How rural are these houses you visit?

[~T~]

I live in a smallish town on the outskirts of Glasgow though it is reasonably rural with farmland only a few minutes away from my house. Actually a friend lived on a farm near me and I used to play there as a young un and saw plenty of rats, wood mice, field voles and shrews but no house mice. I'm in Glasgow city centre and see plenty of rats and once I thought I saw a biggish house mouse but on clsoer inspection it was just a very young rat

[Dogghound]

You could just be missing them, you do tend to get lower numbers in rural areas, but they still exist there sometimes well away from farms and houses. You get higher numbers in urban areas especially at industrial sites and areas of wasteland, like warehouses, shops etc. Ive never really thought about it but perhaps they are less prone to coming into homes and stay in outbuildings compared to wood mice. Ive seen them in houses in N. yorks.

[theresa dockery]

I remember seeing HUNDREDS of House Mice at Edinburgh Zoo: they were running about the animal enclosures (especially the bird cages) - that was the first time I ever encountered them.

My sister lives thereabouts - she's had lots of problems with 'house mice', from her description, they do sound like the real deal.

Most of the 'house mice' I've seen (in Glasgow/West Scotland) have been Wood Mice - my parent's have them in the attic from time to time (how they actually get up there, I can scarcely imagine!).

As I was going into Tesco yesterday (Dundee) I saw a Wood Mouse scamper underneath the trolleys at the front entrance. Which seems like the sort of environment that House Mice would prefer?

[~T~]

Originally Posted by theresa dockery

I remember seeing HUNDREDS of House Mice at Edinburgh Zoo: they were running about the animal enclosures (especially the bird cages) - that was the first time I ever encountered them.

My sister lives thereabouts - she's had lots of problems with 'house mice', from her description, they do sound like the real deal.

Most of the 'house mice' I've seen (in Glasgow/West Scotland) have been Wood Mice - my parent's have them in the attic from time to time (how they actually get up there, I can scarcely imagine!).

As I was going into Tesco yesterday (Dundee) I saw a Wood Mouse scamper underneath the trolleys at the front entrance. Which seems like the sort of environment that House Mice would prefer?

Actually I did see a few mice in indoor part of the marmosette house in Edinburgh zoo but they were hard to see at the back through the glass. I thought they were wood mice too but your probably right about them being house mice.

[earthdragon64]

I'm a member of the Highland Biological Recording Group, who are working on a Highland Mammal Atlas, due to be published next year. I'm an ordinary member, not one of those doing the work, apart from contributing some records.

A couple of years ago, I had a conversation with some other members on a field trip, and although I can't remember the exact details, the gist of the conversation was the lack of House Mouse records. I think that records reduce the further north you go.

The discussion was along the lines of whether there are really less House Mice in the north, or is it a lack of recording due to people's embarrassment at admitting to having an animal perceived as "dirty" in their houses.

I don't think we really came to any conclusion, but it will be intersting to see the atlas when it's published. I've lived in my current house for almost 18 years and have never seen a House Mouse locally, although there are plenty of Wood Mice around.

Regards, Audrey.

[theresa dockery]

Originally Posted by ~T~

Actually I did see a few mice in indoor part of the marmosette house in Edinburgh zoo but they were hard to see at the back through the glass. I thought they were wood mice too but your probably right about them being house mice.

It wouldn't be impossible that they have both species - the ones I saw were grey, small-eyed & small-eared, with that slightly rattish look about them.

The Wood Mice I see are beautiful creatures: huge eyes, large ears, plush brown fur and a very obvious white underbelly. They also seem (to me) to be more graceful, lithe and longer legged.

[~T~]

Originally Posted by earthdragon64

I'm a member of the Highland Biological Recording Group, who are working on a Highland Mammal Atlas, due to be published next year. I'm an ordinary member, not one of those doing the work, apart from contributing some records.

A couple of years ago, I had a conversation with some other members on a field trip, and although I can't remember the exact details, the gist of the conversation was the lack of House Mouse records. I think that records reduce the further north you go.

The discussion was along the lines of whether there are really less House Mice in the north, or is it a lack of recording due to people's embarrassment at admitting to having an animal perceived as "dirty" in their houses.

I don't think we really came to any conclusion, but it will be intersting to see the atlas when it's published. I've lived in my current house for almost 18 years and have never seen a House Mouse locally, although there are plenty of Wood Mice around.

Regards, Audrey.

Interesting.

Originally Posted by theresa dockery

It wouldn't be impossible that they have both species - the ones I saw were grey, small-eyed & small-eared, with that slightly rattish look about them.

The Wood Mice I see are beautiful creatures: huge eyes, large ears, plush brown fur and a very obvious white underbelly. They also seem (to me) to be more graceful, lithe and longer legged.

I agree they are lovely little critters. Saying that I used to keep domestic mice and really liked them.

[theresa dockery]

Originally Posted by ~T~

I agree they are lovely little critters. Saying that I used to keep domestic mice and really liked them.

Me too! And I've managed to make them sound horrible

I do like House Mice - I just think Wood Mice are so much cuter! They remind me of gerbils (which I kept until very recently and are my favourite rodents) - which also have huge eyes, are a similar colour & share the tendency to bound on their hind legs.