Distinctive features and behaviours

A less uniform mouse with a sandy brown fur and a white to grey belly.
A cautious mouse which always sniffs anything unfamiliar before approaching.
Its back feet are large which give it a good spring for leaping.
Its tail is roughly the same length as its head and body.
It stores berries and seeds in the autumn in underground burrows or sometimes in old birds’ nests.
It thrives in woodland, rough grassland and gardens.
This species of mouse does not have a very strong smell.

Diet

Wood mice tend to mostly eat seeds from trees, but they also eat snails, insects, fruit, berries, nuts and fungi.

Field mice and people

Field mouse, also known as wood mouse, is the most common and widespread mouse species in the UK. They can be tricky to spot during the day: they’re lightning quick and are nocturnal. They sleep in burrows when it’s light and venture out to forage during the evenings.