Wood Mouse
Apodemus sylvaticus
Luch fhéir / Luchóg
Where do wood mice live?
The wood mouse occurs throughout Ireland, even on our offshore islands. They can be found in most habitats, except those that are waterlogged. They like woods, hedgerows, long grass, fields of crops, bogs, sand dunes, and even gardens.
Do wood mice come into our houses?
Wood mice prefer to live outdoors, but occasionally they will enter human dwellings. If mice come into your house in winter, they are most likely to be house mice.
How does a wood mouse differ from a house mouse?
Wood mice have larger eyes and ears and a longer tail than house mice. The general impression is of a ‘prettier’ rodent, but to the inexperienced the differences can be subtle.
Wood mice are Irish natives
The earliest remains of wood mice in Ireland, date to the Stone Age, 7600 years ago. It is believed that more wood mice came to Ireland with humans at various times, giving a certain genetic variability.
How common are wood mice?
The wood mouse is one of our commonest mammals. In ideal habitats at the end of the breeding season, there may be as many as 90 wood mice per hectare. By early spring, numbers can be as low as only 2 wood mice per hectare.
How big is a territory?
Female wood mice territories range from 0.1 to 1 hectare. Male wood mice have larger territories that overlap the females. Wood mice move around their territory via a series of pathways.
Where do wood mice sleep?
Wood mice make a series of burrows that may be up to 3 m long. They make a nest of shredded vegetation in the burrow. They may also make nests above ground.
Are wood mice nocturnal?
Yes, wood mice are active at night, becoming active soon after dusk.
Do wood mice live in groups?
In winter, wood mice may nest communally, but breeding females prefer to live alone.
What do wood mice eat?
Seeds make up 70% of the diet, but they will eat anything that is available - seeds, nuts, berries, buds, bulbs, fungi, and even bugs. In autumn, the mice will stash seeds.
What signs of wood mice can I find?
Hazel nuts that have a small hole chewed in them have been eaten by a wood mouse. (Squirrels crack the nuts in half.) Small burrows in banks are also a clue. The droppings are small and hard to find.
Do wood mice hibernate?
Not exactly, but when food is scarce and temperatures are low, they can save energy by going into a sort of torpor.
When are baby wood mice born?
Most breeding occurs between April and October, but they may breed all year round. Gestation is only 20 days. The female gives birth to up to 11 blind, naked babies, each weighing only 1 or 2 g. The mother feeds the babies for 22 days, by which stage she may be about to give birth again. She may have 3—5 litters in the year.
What kills wood mice?
The wood mouse is a very important part of the Irish food web. Many Irish predators eat wood mice, including owls, kestrels, stoats, foxes, badgers, pine martens, and domestic cats. Wood mice are susceptible to pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides, and to the burning of straw. A decline in wood mice numbers can effect predator numbers, especially owls.
How long do wood mice live?
Few live more than a year. The majority of mice that survive the winter are youngsters.
Are wood mice protected?
No. The red squirrel is the only rodent that is protected by the Wildlife Act in Ireland .