2/28/2024 0 Comments Are squirrels nocturnal ukHabitat: Lives in long vegetation such as reed beds, marshes and roadside verges. Size: The UK’s smallest rodent roughly 5-7cm in length. Its long tail is prehensile and can be used as an extra ‘limb’ to hold onto vegetation as it climbs. Identification: A very small mouse with golden fur and white undersides. Harvest mouse – Micromys minutus Harvest Mouse by Charlie Marshall via Flickr This species is one of the more commonly spotted due to its cohabitation with humans. Habitat: Commonly associated with houses, buildings and barns, although also found in the countryside. Identification: Grey –brown all over including the undersides. House mouse – Mus musculus House mouse by Richard Adams via Flickr Generally the most often caught in small mammal surveys. Habitat: Often found in woodland and fields but also common in a variety of other habitats. Size: 8-10cm with a very long tail of up to 10cm. Identification: The wood mouse is a ‘stereotypical’ mouse in terms of appearance and has a chestnut-brown back and white belly. Wood mouse/Field mouse – Apodemus sylvaticus Wood mouse by Vince via Flickr All have relatively large eyes and ears and long scaly tails with little or no hair. There are four species of mice in the UK. In this blog we will focus on some of the most common, native species of rodent and insectivore in the UK, providing key characteristics that will help you to identify them in the field. Although sadly often viewed as pests, small mammals are an important part of our ecosystems. They are rarely seen as more than a passing glimpse of a small scurrying creature. Small mammals are charismatic animals, but often elusive.
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