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Link - Harvest Mice Norfolk

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Link - Harvest Mice Norfolk

Link - Harvest mice breeding and release program -Norfolk, UK

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29 And 31 High Street, Cawston
Norwich
NR104AE

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About Link and Harvest Mice

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The Harvest Mouse

The harvest mouse is our smallest British rodent. They are active both day and at night, although most activity occurs at dawn and dusk. They do not hibernate, but spend most of their time in winter underground. Over recent years they have fallen into the vulnerable population status and the aim of Link is to help create new sustainable populations to ensure the survival of the species.

Harvest mice favour tall, dense vegetation, their breeding nests can be found in long grass, crops, reedbeds, rushes, ditches, bramble patches and grassy hedgerows. Due to the loss of their natural habitat, roadside verges are now providing important breeding sites and refuges for the harvest mouse.

As a vital Link in the natural chain, harvest mice form a staple diet to many predators, such as: weasels, stoats, foxes, owls and hawks. Supporting that chain, has a natural impact on other species and is positive to the overall balance.

Keeping and Breeding Harvest Mice

Harvest mice can be kept in fish tanks, although a minimum guide size is 2’6” long tanks. These tanks should be covered by a lid containing a 0.6cm2 mesh maximum diameter. The bottom of the tank can be lined with sawdust and plenty of hay for the harvest mice to make their nests from. Grass and leaves are added on occasion for the same reason. Millet sprays are provided and small branches are added for climbing.

Equal parts of budgie, canary, finch and parakeet mix are provided. A small piece of fruit (apple, melon, banana or orange) can be added occasionally and mealworms make an ideal treat food. A small dish of water should also be provided.

A pair of mice may not breed, needing the competitive edge of another male and female. Once a ‘pairing’ is identified, they should be kept only as that pair while waiting the arrival of young. This will take three weeks and they will wean after two weeks, with anything from one to eight baby mice being common.

Their nests are normally built above ground, using their prehensile tale, but it is common in captivity to see ground nests balled from hay. During their mating season of May to October, it is possible for up to seven litters to be produced.

Releasing Harvest Mice to the wild

Selecting suitable sites for reintroduction should take thought and consideration.

Ideally harvest mice should be released into arable fields and their margins, ditches and long grass. They are less common in long grass near pasture. Road verges with vegetation consisting of bramble make ideal locations. Providing a small amount of seed and a water pot, will help the mice at the release location.

Link aims to work as a team, carefully introducing populations into the Mid/North Norfolk region, expanding and furthering those release locations.