• Water shrew- slightly larger than common shrew and very dark in colour (almost black)

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  • Mole- Larger than shrews with much smaller eyes and large, clawed forelimbs

Prey Species ID

Here, you'll find handy tips to help you identify 'what the cat dragged in'

Mammals

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Cats commonly bring more small mammals home than they do birds. This is thought to be because mammals are generally much easier to catch.

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We can group small mammals into three main categories: mice (& rats), voles, and shrews. Although there are some exceptions, key features to look out for are:

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Remember:

If possible, please take photos of all returned prey

Wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus)

Also known as the field mouse

  • Head and body length: 6-10cm

  • Tail length: 7-9.5cm

  • Colouration can vary, but is commonly more golden than the house mouse

  • Often has a darker stripe running along its back

  • Pale underbelly, occasionally having a small yellow patch on the chest

  • Larger ears and eyes than the house mouse (relative to body size)

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Image: Hanna Knutsson

 

Yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis)

Often confused with the wood mouse

  • Head and body length: 9-12cm

  • Tail length: 8-11cm

  • Golden in colour, very similar to the wood mouse

  • Whiter underbelly than the wood mouse, with an unbroken band of yellow across the chest

  • Ears and eyes are larger than those of the wood mouse (relative to body size)

  • Can be found towards the south of England, the West Midlands and eastern parts of Wales

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Image: Gareth Christian

Harvest mouse (Mycromys minutus)

  • Head and body length: 5-8cm

  • Tail length: 5-8cm

  • Arond the size of a human thumb

  • Mid to light brown/golden in colour, similar to the wood mouse

  • Pale underbelly

  • Ears are furry and pinned back. Also ears are relatively smaller than those of other mice

  • Muzzle is not as pointed as other mice

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Image: Chris Parker

 

Bank vole

or field vole?

Check the tail...

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Bank voles have longer tails (two thirds body length) than field voles (half body length)

Mammals: mice & rats

Mammals: voles

Mammals: shrews

Did you know?

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Shrews aren't rodents, unlike mice and voles.

Instead, shrews are

more closely related to moles and hedgehogs, eating small invertebrates

House mouse (Mus musculus)

  • Head and body length: 6-10cm

  • Tail length: 6-10cm

  • Dusty brown/ grey colour, with a pale underbelly

  • Smaller ears and eyes than the wood mouse (relative to body size)

  • Muzzle is quite pointed

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Image: Duncan Hull

Image: Hanna Knutsson

Bank vole (Myodes glareolus)

  • Head and body length: 8-12cm

  • Tail length: 3.3-4.8cm

  • Tail is around two thirds the length of the body

  • Smaller eyes, ears and tail than a mouse

  • Stocky build

  • Similar in appearance to the harvest mouse

  • Can be dusty brown/ grey, but typically more of a chestnut brown colour

  • Pale grey underbelly

  • Muzzle is blunt, unlike mice

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Image: Rudmer Zwerver

Field vole (Microtus agrestis)

  • Head and body length: 9-11cm

  • Tail length: 2-5cm

  • Tail is around half the length of the body

  • Smaller eyes, ears and tail than a mouse

  • Stocky build

  • Small, furry ears (furrier than the bank vole)

  • Brown or dusty brown/ grey

  • Pale grey underbelly

  • Muzzle is blunt, unlike mice

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Image: Hanna Knutsson

Common shrew (sorex araneus)

  • Head and body length: 5.5-8.5cm

  • Tail length: 3-5.5cm

  • Small ears, tucked back against head

  • Tail is around half the length of the head & body

  • Dark brown in colour, with light brown flanks and a pale grey/white underbelly

  • Very small eyes

  • Elongated snout

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Image: Philip Hay

Pygmy shrew (sorex minutus)

  • Head and body length: 4-6.5cm

  • Tail length: 3-4.5cm

  • Smaller than the common shrew

  • Very small eyes

  • Elongated snout

  • Small ears, tucked back against head

  • Dark brown in colour, with a pale grey/white underbelly

  • Tail is longer than that of the common shrew, relative to body size (around 65-80% the length of the head & body)

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Image: Jean-Jaques Bujot

Brown rat (Rattus norvegicus)

  • Head and body length: 21-29cm

  • Tail length: 17-23cm

  • Similar in appearance to the house mouse ... but around 3x bigger!

  • Dusty brown/ grey colour, with a pale underbelly

  • Quite large ears and eyes

  • Muzzle is pointed

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What else could it be?

What else could it be?

  • Water vole- Much larger than the other voles, similar in size to the brown rat

What else could it be?

  • Hazel dormouse- Similar size to the smaller mouse species, with a slightly bushy tail and orange coloured fur

  • Prominant ears

  • Long tail

  • Large eyes

  • Pointed muzzle

  • Small ears

  • Tiny eyes

  • Long snout

  • Short fur

  • Small, pinned back ears

  • Short tail

  • Blunt muzzle

  • Stocky body

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