House mouse, Mus musculus, single mammal in shed, UK
There are many different species of mice in the UK, each varies in appearance, size and lifespan. If you have seen a mouse in your garden or even your house and want to know what species it is or would just like to know more about the different types of mice then read this guide for all you need to know.
Different Mice Species
Wood Mouse/Field Mouse – The wood mouse also known as the field mouse has a sandy brown coat and a whitish-grey underbelly. The field mice have a long tale which equals the length of their body and large back feet that help them have a spring like run.
Facts:
Lifespan – A field mouse has a life span of just one year due to the fact that it has quite a few predators and lives in a rather dangerous environment, however in the right conditions a field mouse could live up to three years.
Food – Field mice eat fruits, seeds, berries, fungi and nuts and have also been known to enjoy the odd snail.
Do Field Mice Hibernate? – No, field mice will look for a warm place indoors to see the winter months out and only venture out if food is low.
House Mouse
The house mouse is brown/grey in colour that covers them from top to tail! House mice have very distinctive tails as the look hairless, thicker and scalier than the tails of other mice. The house mouse has large eyes, ears and a long pointy nose and four small feet.
Facts
Lifespan – If living outdoors the house mouse is only expected to live up to one year, however if living indoors then the house mouse could live up to three years.
Food – The average house mouse will eat up to three grams of food every day. They often feed on seeds, grains and fruits but their favourite meal is cereals so keep an eye on your food cupboard!
Do House Mice Hibernate? – No, they find shelter in our buildings during the winter months where they have access to plenty of food and warmth.
Harvest Mouse
The harvest mouse is the smallest rodent found in Europe. It is also the only rodent in the UK known to have a prehensile tail, this means that it can use its tail to help grasp, control and handle objects as well as helping them move through long grass quickly.
Facts
Lifespan – The harvest mouse is expected to live for around 18 months in the wild however, in captivity they can live up to five years.
Food – fruits are a favourite of the harvest mouse as are seeds, they are also known to feed on slugs and snails.
Do Harvest Mice Hibernate? – Harvest mice don’t hibernate thought hey are much less active during the winter. They tend to store food in their nests and stay hidden where its warm and wait out the cold months.
Yellow-Necked Mouse
These mice live up to their name, they have a yellow strip of fur around their necks, however this is so subtle they can often be mistaken for a field mouse. The only way to tell these two species apart really is by what is known as a white bib that can be found just under the chin of a yellow-necked mouse. The yellow-necked mouse is also one of the bigger species of mice in the UK as they grow up to 10cm long!
Facts
Lifespan -this species of mouse has an incredibly short life expectancy of just 3-4 months.
Food – yellow necked mice will eat, seeds, fruits, shoots and insects.
Do Yellow-Necked Mice Hibernate? – No, during the winter months yellow-necked mice will all snuggle up together to generate warmth from their body heat.
It is unlikely that you find a yellow-necked mouse or harvest mouse in your home at winter as they prefer to stay in their nests but if you do come across them then you should call out pest control to help you remove them.
The house mouse and field mice however are well known for infesting buildings and are both capable of rapid reproduction so if you see one or more of these in your property then you should call out a professional pest controller to come and get rid of the mice before they become a huge problem.
If your having problems with mice, and mice infestations then contact Advanced Pest Control Bristol today – 0777 150 3107
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