Harvest mice are Britain’s smallest rodent, weighing only about 5g and measuring a tiny 5-7cm long. They are great climbers and the only mammal in Britain to support a prehensile tail, which they use to hold onto grass stalks as they climb. These fascinating creatures are a target species under the Rushcliffe Local Nature Strategy, so we were very excited to find evidence of them at The Hook, in the form of this beautiful, round little nest!

Harvest mice make spherical nests high up in long grasses, out of tightly woven grass. The leaves remain attached to the plant, supporting the nest above the ground. Around six tiny young in are born the newly built nest, and they grow quickly – they are independent of their mother by about 2 weeks old. By autumn, most nests will be brown in colour and finding these round, tennis ball sized nests is the main sign that harvest mice are around!

Our harvest mouse survey continues and we are hopeful to find more evidence – the more we know, the better we can protect their habitat!