MICE

The mouse is a commonly known rodent. Mice are numerous throughout most of the world, but for convenience they are often grouped as the Eurasian mouse and the American mouse. Fields and human habitations serve as homes for these animals. Mice, like rats, consume and damage large quantities of food and spread diseases. One mouse can have 40 babies a year, and when the young are 12 weeks old they can breed themselves.

HOUSE MOUSE:

The Latin name for this mouse is Mus musculus.

This is a small mammal with a body length of 7-9cm and a long tail. Its colour is variable, but it is generally grey or grey-brown above, paler grey below. Those living in agricultural areas are usually smaller and brown in colour.

Breeding is continuous, with up to approximately 10 litters a year of 4-8 young which are weaned at 18 days.

This mouse feeds on seeds, cheese and scraps and has a preference for cereals.

WOOD MOUSE:

The Latin name for this mouse is Apodemus sylvaticus.

This mouse is also known as the Long-tailed Field Mouse. This small mammal is distinctly larger than the house mouse, with a body length of 8-13cm and a long, thin tail. It has large eyes and ears and is yellow-brown above, white below.

It is mainly a nocturnal animal and is most commonly found in rough woodland and grassy places, but regularly occurs in larger gardens. It breeds from March to December, usually producing several litters of up to 9 young which are independent at about 3 weeks.

Other types of mice include the
Harvest Mouse and Dormouse