Field Mice: Important Garden Wildlife
What are Field Mice?
Field mice are small, brown rodents with big ears, big eyes, and long tails. They are the most common rodent in Britain and can be found in woodlands, grasslands, and even urban gardens.
What Do Field Mice Eat?
Field mice are omnivores and eat a variety of foods, including:
- Seeds (including bird seed)
- Plants
- Caterpillars
- Earthworms
- Fruit
- Fungi
- Cat biscuits
They also cache food for later, so you may find piles of seed husks or plum stones in your shed or beneath a membrane you have laid down to suppress weeds.
Where Do Field Mice Live?
Field mice typically live in burrows underground. Their burrows may have several chambers and are used by several generations. They also build nests using leaves, moss, and grass.
How to Help Field Mice
Field mice are an important part of the food chain and provide food for animals like foxes, weasels, and owls. They also help bumblebees by providing them with nesting material.
To help field mice, you can:
- Create an open compost heap or log pile where they can nest.
- Let seedheads remain on plants so they have a source of food.
- Provide windfall plums and cherries.
- Relocate bird feeders away from your house to concentrate mice away from the home.
How to Keep Field Mice Out of Your House
Field mice typically live outside, but they may come into your home in inclement weather. To keep them out, you can:
- Block entrance holes with wire wool and bricks.
- Relocate bird feeders away from your house.
- Keep your home clean and free of food debris.
Conclusion
Field mice are important garden wildlife that play a vital role in the ecosystem. By providing them with food and shelter, you can help these small creatures thrive.
