Harvest Mouse Micromys minutus
The Harvest Mouse (Micromys minutus) is Britain’s smallest rodent, building its intricate woven nest amongst tall grasses, cereal crops, and reedbeds. It has declined significantly across much of Britain due to agricultural intensification, the loss of traditional hay meadows, and changes in cereal harvesting. Suffolk retains good populations in suitable habitats, including reedbeds, rough grassland, and arable field margins. The county’s coastal reedbeds – such as those at Minsmere and the Waveney Valley – support the species, and targeted survey work, including nest searches, has helped build a clearer picture of its distribution across Suffolk. Image: © Oleg Yumashev, iNaturalist.
Find out more: Mammal Society, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, iNaturalist
Suffolk’s Priority Mammal Species
Key
Listed as a conservation priority in Suffolk’s Biodiversity Action Plan.
Closely associated with Suffolk’s landscape and natural identity.
Identified as a key priority for recovery under Suffolk’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
Has a Species of the Month article attached.
