Harvest Mouse?

[Dave Barlow]

Hi Karen, thanks no problem. Although I do have a cat (not my choice) I do try to keep her in and only let her out at night. We do keep her in when the young birds are about in the spring. She has brought in a few mice and a few birds but less than five birds in three years. The mice she has usually brought in have been Wood mice but this record seemed so unusual and a surprise to me as I live on a typical housing estate. Perhaps Harvest mice are more widespread than we think? On looking at the NBN Gateway atlas where I am is near the northern limit of most records for this species. In all the years of being out in the field I have never seen any. As a lad I used to catch Field Voles and other small mammals but never found one of these little chaps.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Dave Barlow

Hi Karen, thanks no problem. Although I do have a cat (not my choice) I do try to keep her in and only let her out at night. We do keep her in when the young birds are about in the spring. She has brought in a few mice and a few birds but less than five birds in three years. The mice she has usually brought in have been Wood mice but this record seemed so unusual and a surprise to me as I live on a typical housing estate. Perhaps Harvest mice are more widespread than we think? On looking at the NBN Gateway atlas where I am is near the northern limit of most records for this species. In all the years of being out in the field I have never seen any. As a lad I used to catch Field Voles and other small mammals but never found one of these little chaps.

The NBN gateway as good as it is, is very limited and does not provide a full picture in terms of spatial and temporal distribution. Harvest mice often spread along river valleys so it is likely that they have moved along the tees valley. They are present in decent numbers on this (south) side of the moors. October/November is usually a good time to look for nests as dieback of vegetation has occurred but nests have not brocken up/decayed. I did a study on this species in 2006 and found a positive correlation with bramble in a variety of habitats. The hedgerow sounds like a good bet especially if it has got a tussocky grass buffer and bramble growing around it.

[Dorts]

It is quite possible for Harvest Mice to inhabit large unkempt gardens, just as Dormice do. I have found Harvest Mice very close to such gardens, and have found Dormice in a number of not so large gardens. But in both cases it has been in and around large villages. I'm not sure whether either have ever recently been recorded in the 'suburbs'.

As a youg lad living in Finchley, I well remember someone bringing a complete family of Havest Mice to school in a biscuit tin, much to the delight of the class. They probably did inhabit such areas back then, (early 50's!).
Dorts.

[Mordincottage]

I have just moved into our new cottage and we just built a new wood store. We have now found some rather cute little mice living in the wood. They look just like your picture so im thinking they are harvest mice.

Everyone tells me i should get rid of them as they will multiple but they are far too beautiful. Our added problem is we have thatch and i am told they will go up into that next?! I dont want to get rid of them but am i being foolish and should i try to move them on before they multiple?

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by Mordincottage

I have just moved into our new cottage and we just built a new wood store. We have now found some rather cute little mice living in the wood. They look just like your picture so im thinking they are harvest mice.

Everyone tells me i should get rid of them as they will multiple but they are far too beautiful. Our added problem is we have thatch and i am told they will go up into that next?! I dont want to get rid of them but am i being foolish and should i try to move them on before they multiple?

More likely to be Wood Mice.

Cheers,

Adam

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by Mordincottage

I have just moved into our new cottage and we just built a new wood store. We have now found some rather cute little mice living in the wood. They look just like your picture so im thinking they are harvest mice.

Everyone tells me i should get rid of them as they will multiple but they are far too beautiful. Our added problem is we have thatch and i am told they will go up into that next?! I dont want to get rid of them but am i being foolish and should i try to move them on before they multiple?

Hi, welcome to WAB.
When you say these mice were living in the wood, do you mean among the logs in your wood shed, or a piece of woodland?
If they are they are in the wood-shed they are unlikely to be Harvest Mice. They could be a number of other species such as Field Mice or House Mice, or perhaps Voles.
Is it possible to get a photo?

It is most unlikely they will become a nuisance.
Dorts.

[Mordincottage]

I managed to get some photos, but they are a little blurred. they are fast little mice!! looking back at the other photos i think your right not harvest mice. they dont seem to have multiplied yet.... im glad you dont think they will be difficult, i love my new little friends!!!

[Dogghound]

Its an Apodemus spp so either wood or yellow-necked. Where in Britain are you? Wood mice are more abundant and more likely to be found close to buildings, whearas yellow-necked mice are more associated with woodland. Although this does not narrow it down as yellow-necked will occurin rural/sub-urban gardens especially if mature.