The Eurasian harvest mouse, aka harvest mouse, hails from Europe and Asia. They are the smallest known mouse in Europe. These rodents face the threats of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of residential and commercial developments, farming, and ranching. Pesticides and herbicides that kill their food source of insects and seeds is another issue faced. Finally, climate change, that can cause severe winter storms which can bring about mass mortalities is another threat. However, despite these threats, they are abundant enough to be listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Their population trend is listed as stable as well.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Micromys minutus
Weight: Up to .39 ounce
Length: Up to 3 inches, plus up to a 3 inch tail
Lifespan: Up to 3.8 years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) They were first scientifically described and named in 1771 by German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas. However, British naturalist Gilbert White is associated with first discovering and providing detailed natural history observations of this species of mouse in Selborne, Hampshire, in 1767.
2.) These mice have been around since the early Pleistocene Epoch in Germany, 2.58 million years ago.
3.) Due to their partially arboreal lifestyle, these mice possess a prehensile tail (a tail that acts as an additional limb for grasping onto branches).
4.) Their preferred habitat contains tall, dense vegetation, particularly in wetlands, long grass areas, hedgerows, reed beds, and cereal crop fields.
5.) They are preyed on by barn owls, tawny owls, long-eared owls, little owls, kestrels, and domestic cats.
But wait, there’s more on the Eurasian harvest mouse!
6.) Females undergo up to a 19+ day gestation (pregnancy).
7.) Up to 8 pups are produced with each litter.
Did you know…?
The pups are born nearly precocial (self sufficient at birth) in that they can climb just a few days after their first lactation. They can also grasp objects, and utilize their prehensile tail in just a few days time.
8.) The pups have a short lactation period (weaning) of just 16 days.
9.) These mice are both nocturnal (active at night) and crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk).
10.) They feast on a variety of seeds, grains, fruits, berries, grasshoppers, and moths.
Now a Short Eurasian Harvest Mouse Video!
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Some source material acquired from: Wikipedia & IUCN
