Harvest mice

One of my favorite animals is the Eurasian Harvest Mouse. (From now on I will refer to it as the harvest mouse.) This fascinating little member of the rodent family is found in Europe and Asia. For most of the year harvest mice live in grain fields. Once that crop is harvested many find homes for the winter in hedges. 

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The main parts of a harvest mouse's diet are seeds and insects, although sometimes he will sip on some nectar or have a snack of fruit.
Some common predators of our furry friends are cats, foxes, stoats, weasels, and quite surprisingly... toads! 

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From early spring to late fall a female harvest mouse might have up to three litters. Each litter consists of three to eight blind helpless babies who look like tiny pink raisins! Before the tiny raisins are born, the mother climbs up a stalk of grain until she is a foot or two above the ground. Then she begins weaving green leaves into a tennis ball sized nest. This cozy home has chewed leaf bedding inside for her babies.  By sixteen days of age her youngsters are independent. They stay close to the nest for a few more days, then leave to find their own territory.

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These incredible creations are very agile and quick. Their furless tail acts as an extra limb, helping to balance when they are climbing up swaying stalks. One of these mice can hang on with his back feet and tail while stuffing his cheek pouches full with grain using both of his front paws. Amazing!

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Photos courtesy of Google