The Harvest Mouse is a delightful creature, smaller than a thumb, and weighing less than a two pence coin.

It is so light, that using its prehensile tail as an extra limb, it can hang, move and travel at the top of crops, tall grasses, reeds, brambles and tussocks.

But are there any Harvest Mice left on the Roseland?

I was recently asked by Dave Groves, Chair of the Cornwall Mammal Group, if we could solve that question, as there have only ever been 2 recorded on the Roseland. But that does not mean that there aren’t any here. Rather it could be simply because of a lack of submitted records. Dave is our next speaker and will be presenting an evening on Harvest Mice and other small mammals on Tuesday, 31st January at 7.00pm in
Gerrans Parish Memorial Hall.  See the notice here.

The context for this is the launch of a nationwide survey of Harvest Mice, organised by the Mammal Society, using citizen scientists to gather records of abandoned Harvest Mice nests.

But what do you have to look for? It’s easy, especially at this time of year, while vegetation is dormant and the nests are usually empty in winter.

They are to be found typically in tall grasses, such as reeds or sedges, marshy ground, rough grassland, brambles and field margins. Harvest Mice make very small golf-balled sized “day nests,” as well as tennis ball sized “breeding nests,” woven from strips of leaves and attached to plants from 10 cm above ground level to 1 metre. It is not immediately obvious that they have an entrance hole.

If you find a nest, please upload a photo including its surrounding vegetation if you can. Give the nest location, (grid reference preferably), and send the information, along with your contact details, to one of the following: – the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, 01872 273939, ext. 310. Or by email cornwallmammals@btinternet.com More information is on their website, cornwallmammalgroup.org  

Come and join us on the 31st of January to find out more.

Thank you for supporting Wild Roseland.

David Hall.