Wood Mouse
Footprint Images
Description
Large ears and protruding eyes, together with dark sandy brown upper parts and white under belly, with a long tail.
Footprint Description
Forefoot has 4 digital pads with distinct claw marks, giving toes a pointed appearance.3 interdigital pads in a triangular formation, 2 proximal pads.
Hind foot has 5 interdigital pads,3 middle toes pointing forwards, with the remaining 2 toes pointing out almost at right angles from the side of the print. 4 interdigital pads, one large and one small proximal pad.
Distribution
The Wood Mouse is found throughout the British Isles.
Footprint Size
hind foot - 2.2x1.8cm, fore foot - 1.3x1.5cm. Stride up to 15cm.
Habitat
As the name implies the Wood Mouse is likely to be found in woods, but is also adept at thriving on moorlands, in gardens and buildings - in fact, almost anywhere! They make their homes in tunnels under ground which they also use for storing food. These tunnels may be used by several generations of Wood mice.
Diet
Behaviour
Taxonomy
Images of Tracks & Signs
Male
Primary Image
Reproduction
The Wood Mouse has only 1 or 2 litters per year, between March and October and they give birth to between 4 and 7 pups. They sometimes nest in trees and properties, but also tunnel beneath the ground to build nests, which are sometimes shared with other Wood mice, out of the breeding season.
Scientific Name
Apodemus sylvaticus
Female
Height
Predators
Domestic cats, foxes and weazels prey on the Wood Mouse, as do owls. The Tawny Owl may not breed if Wood Mouse numbers are low, therefore restricting the owl's diet.
Tracks & Signs Description
Woodmouse burrows are more often found in the open than those of Voles,which tend to be in, or on the edge of cover. The tunnel systems of their burrows are also deeper underground than those of Voles,often going down to a metre or more.
The image above is of a burrow in the centre of a path through rough grassland.The entrance lead down almost a foot before levelling out into the tunnel system.
Juvenile
Length
Body length: 8-11cm
Weight
Up to 27g
Speed
Droppings Images
Life Span
Approx. 18 months.
Also Known As
Field Mouse and Long Tailed Field Mouse
Droppings Description
Droppings are around 0.8cm in length, stubby with rounded ends and round cross section.Pale when fresh, darkening with age.Droppings are deposited in prominent places such as branches, and at feeding sites.
Status
Numbers are lower at the end of the Winter, but once breeding begins numbers increase considerably.
Did You Know?
The Wood Mouse is usually nocturnal and has a good night vision and an acute sense of smell. Of all British mammals, the Wood Mouse is probably the most abundant and widespread.