We have recently joined up with the Cumbria Harvest Mouse Group to start breeding harvest mice for reintroductions.

But why do we need to reintroduce harvest mice?

Well, we lost numbers in the UK due to intensified agricultural practices and the use of DDT insecticides. They are listed as a Biodiversity Action Plan priority species because they require conservation work to reverse the decline. This makes projects like these vital for the wild survival of the species.

Okay so we know why they need our help, but what actually makes a harvest mouse different from other mice?

Firstly, they are Britain’ smallest rodent – how adorable! They weigh less than a 2p coin and are the only mammal in the UK that has a prehensile tail. That’s just a fancy way of saying they use it for climbing, a bit like an extra arm or a leg!

Recognisable by their yellow-brown coat and white underbelly, these little mice may be spotted climbing grass or foraging for berries.

They live in tall grasses and other vegetation such as hedgerows, road verges and field margins. They like to eat berries, seeds and insects as well as the occasional grain.

Recently we’ve found our mice have been enjoying munching on Rowan berries… And they can’t get enough of meadowsweet seeds!

They create tiny woven nests out of grasses and use these both for sleeping and raising their young. See if you can spot Wild Lea’s first litter in the video below!

Want to learn more about our harvest mice? Stay tuned for future updates or pop over to our Instagram page,  where we post more frequently about our projects.