Wood mice
14th November 2011
Scentific name: Apodemus sylvaticus
Other names: Wood mouse, Long-tailed field mouse/field mouse
Identification: Light brown fur that gets darker towards the spine. White/grey underside, large ears, protruding eyes and a long tail.
Size: 81-103mm; tail 71-95mm.
Weight: 13-27g.
Lifespan: Few survive more than a year.
Wood mice can be found throughout the British Isles, being our most common and widespread rodent. It is a highly adaptable and tends to frequent woodlands and fields but is found in most habitats, provided it is not too wet or very exposed. They are primarily nocturnal, although they can be seen during the day if there is a shortage of food. It is closely related to the Yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) but is generally smaller, with smaller ears and does not have the band of yellow on its neck. Yellow-necked mice are very rare if not absent from Devon and Cornwall.
Wood mice tend to live in complicated, underground burrows that include nest chambers and food stores. The nests are usually made of grass, leaves and moss and tend to be built below ground in root systems but are often found in holes in trees, buildings and bird boxes.
During the winter they will nest in groups for warmth, just like in our nest chamber.
In spring the females will find their own nest site and nest on their own. They are incredibly fast breeders, giving birth to 6 litters of 4-7 blind, hairless young in one year. They can breed way into October, although these litters tend to be considerably smaller. The young are fully weaned after 18 days.
Being at the bottom of the food chain they have a wide range of predators including owls, foxes, stoats, weasels and domestic cats. They are an invaluable prey item for owls, particularly Tawny Owls.
