Characteristics of Harvest Mice

BREEDING

No. of young:

3 to 8 per litter. Up to 3 litters a year, more in captivity

Mating season:

May - October (in the Wild)

Sexual maturity:

35 days

Gestation:

17 - 19 days

LIFESTYLE

Behaviour:

In the wild solitary, mated females drive away males.
More nocturnal in summer and more diurnal in the winter.
Harvest mice do not hibernate.

Diet:

Mainly seeds and insects, also berries and fruit.

Lifespan:

Up to 18 months in the wild, but usually only 6.
In captivity they may live up to 5 years.

Distribution:

In Britain the harvest mouse is more abundant in the south and south-east, although recently it has been recorded Cheshire, Yorkshire, Wales and even Scotland.
Widespread through out Europe and Asia, from Spain to China, Siberia, Japan and Korea.

RELATED SPECIES

The harvest mouse is the only species in the genus Micromys, But they belong to the same family as other mice, Muridea

CONSERVATION

Although not endangered, numbers have been greatly reduced with the advent of modern agricultural methods, such as combine harvesting, pesticide spraying and stubbleburning.

SUITABLE HABITAT

Any areas of tall dense vegetation are suitable for harvest mice: grassland, reedbeds, rushes, sedges and cereal crops (with the exception of barley and rye). Other suitable habitats include farmland, scrubland, ditches, grassy hedgerows especially with set-a-side margins, roadside verges, brambles, young plantations, bogs, marshes and even salt marshes.

Garden Bird Survey Results for 2000/2001 | Sandnats publication, 'Birds of the Sandwell Valley'.

Sandwell Valley plant List | Garden Bird Survey

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This page was constructed and is maintained by Clare Hinchliffe.

BREEDING
No. of young:	3 to 8 per litter. Up to 3 litters a year, more in captivity
Mating season:	May - October (in the Wild)
Sexual maturity:	35 days
Gestation:	17 - 19 days
LIFESTYLE
Behaviour:	In the wild solitary, mated females drive away males. More nocturnal in summer and more diurnal in the winter. Harvest mice do not hibernate.
Diet:	Mainly seeds and insects, also berries and fruit.
Lifespan:	Up to 18 months in the wild, but usually only 6. In captivity they may live up to 5 years.
Distribution:	In Britain the harvest mouse is more abundant in the south and south-east, although recently it has been recorded Cheshire, Yorkshire, Wales and even Scotland. Widespread through out Europe and Asia, from Spain to China, Siberia, Japan and Korea.
RELATED SPECIES
The harvest mouse is the only species in the genus Micromys, But they belong to the same family as other mice, Muridea
CONSERVATION
Although not endangered, numbers have been greatly reduced with the advent of modern agricultural methods, such as combine harvesting, pesticide spraying and stubbleburning.
SUITABLE HABITAT
Any areas of tall dense vegetation are suitable for harvest mice: grassland, reedbeds, rushes, sedges and cereal crops (with the exception of barley and rye). Other suitable habitats include farmland, scrubland, ditches, grassy hedgerows especially with set-a-side margins, roadside verges, brambles, young plantations, bogs, marshes and even salt marshes.