Harvest Mouse Project

Volunteer members are helping with all aspects of a project, which includes breeding harvest mice, keeping non-breeding stock, releasing them into wild habitats and monitoring their progress. The work is being carried out In conjuction with Sandwell Country Park and Dudley Zoo and the scheme was initiated by the Cheshire Wildlife Trust and Chester Zoo.

Sandwell Valley Harvest Mouse Breeding Programme Update
Adapted from the reports by Andy Purcell, Paul Essex and Janet Granger in Sandnats Bulletins for 2001 ­ 2005, where full details will be found.

Micromys minutus Harvest mouse.

The initial aim had been to release more than 200 creatures in 2000. In June the first 50 were released followed by 85 in July, 54 in September and 10 in October , giving a total of 193 in the first year. In the following years, many more were released, 77 in 2001, 50 in 2002, and 220 in 2003 into 4 locations in the Valley. Breeding stocks have been retained and the release programme continues.

The harvest mice have become a popular feature at the Sandwell Show and other venues with displays by Sandnats members.

Thanks must go to all of the keepers (and mice) for their enthuiasm and care in creating such favourable breeding conditions for the mice and their young, which has made the release programme so viable.