Harvest Mice

The tiny harvest mouse lives in long tussocky grassland, reedbeds, hedgerows, farmland and around woodland edges. It is mainly vegetarian, eating seeds and fruits, but will also eat invertebrates. Harvest mice build a spherical nest of tightly woven grass, high-up in the tall grasses, in which the female will give birth to around six young.
 

Harvest mice are listed as a BAP (Biodiversity Action Plan) Species because they are thought to have become much scarcer in recent years and they require conservation plans to reverse the decline. Changes in habitat management and agricultural methods are thought to be the main cause for the loss of populations from certain areas, although there have been no reliable studies to quantify this change.

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weighing an average of only 5-8g which is about the same as a 2 pence piece. Its blunt nose, small hairy ears and small size distinguishes it from other British species of mice, as does its coloration of russet-orange fur and white underside. It is adapted to climb, with a very light skeleton, sensitive forepaws and a prehensile tail, which can be wrapped around plant stems to keep the mouse from falling. If you would like to know more about these adorable mice you can read more about Wildlife in North Devon here