Wood mouse or field mouse Apodemus sylvaticus

Identification features

• Small sized mammal
• Pointed muzzle
• Large ears
• Fur is a rich yellowish brown colour on the back with a pale grey underside with a yellow streak between the forelegs
• Tail is very long, darker in colour above than below. Length is equivalent to the length of the head and body combined.

Wood mice eat seeds, plants and fruits as well as insects. Their distribution is widespread, but are rarely seen as they are more active at night. They can recorded as cat kills and during small mammal trapping surveys where they are more commonly found in traps in the mornings.

Other identification clues

Feeding remains

Wood mice have a distinctive way of eating hazelnuts. They leave a chiselled edge to the inner part of the circular hole, like the edge of a 5 or 10p coin.

They also leave gnaw marks on the surface on the nut.

Distribution in Derbyshire information