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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
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Head and body length: 6-10cm
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Tail length: 7-9.5cm
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Colouration can vary, but is commonly more golden than the house mouse
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Often has a darker stripe running along its back
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Pale underbelly, occasionally having a small yellow patch on the chest
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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
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Head and body length: 9-12cm
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Tail length: 8-11cm
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Golden in colour, very similar to the wood mouse
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Whiter underbelly than the wood mouse, with an unbroken band of yellow across the chest
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Ears and eyes are larger than those of the wood mouse (relative to body size)
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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)
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Head and body length: 5-8cm
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Tail length: 5-8cm
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Arond the size of a human thumb
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Mid to light brown/golden in colour, similar to the wood mouse
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Pale underbelly
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Ears are furry and pinned back. Also ears are relatively smaller than those of other mice
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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)
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Head and body length: 6-10cm
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Tail length: 6-10cm
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Dusty brown/ grey colour, with a pale underbelly
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Smaller ears and eyes than the wood mouse (relative to body size)
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Muzzle is quite pointed
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Image: Duncan Hull

Image: Hanna Knutsson
Bank vole (Myodes glareolus)
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Head and body length: 8-12cm
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Tail length: 3.3-4.8cm
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Tail is around two thirds the length of the body
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Smaller eyes, ears and tail than a mouse
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Stocky build
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Similar in appearance to the harvest mouse
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Can be dusty brown/ grey, but typically more of a chestnut brown colour
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Pale grey underbelly
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Muzzle is blunt, unlike mice
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Image: Rudmer Zwerver
Field vole (Microtus agrestis)
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Head and body length: 9-11cm
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Tail length: 2-5cm
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Tail is around half the length of the body
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Smaller eyes, ears and tail than a mouse
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Stocky build
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Small, furry ears (furrier than the bank vole)
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Brown or dusty brown/ grey
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Pale grey underbelly
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Muzzle is blunt, unlike mice
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Image: Hanna Knutsson
Common shrew (sorex araneus)
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Head and body length: 5.5-8.5cm
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Tail length: 3-5.5cm
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Small ears, tucked back against head
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Tail is around half the length of the head & body
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Dark brown in colour, with light brown flanks and a pale grey/white underbelly
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Very small eyes
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Elongated snout
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Image: Philip Hay
Pygmy shrew (sorex minutus)
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Head and body length: 4-6.5cm
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Tail length: 3-4.5cm
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Smaller than the common shrew
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Very small eyes
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Elongated snout
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Small ears, tucked back against head
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Dark brown in colour, with a pale grey/white underbelly
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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)
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Head and body length: 21-29cm
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Tail length: 17-23cm
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Similar in appearance to the house mouse ... but around 3x bigger!
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Dusty brown/ grey colour, with a pale underbelly
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Quite large ears and eyes
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Muzzle is pointed
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What else could it be?
What else could it be?
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Water vole- Much larger than the other voles, similar in size to the brown rat
What else could it be?
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Hazel dormouse- Similar size to the smaller mouse species, with a slightly bushy tail and orange coloured fur