Harvest Mouse Surveys

Harvest mouse - a delightful creature with declining populations - if present, mitigation measures might be required in planning submissions.
Populations of the Harvest mouse are rapidly declining, so ecological authorities might require mitigation measures and management plans to be submitted with planning applications.

The Harvest mouse is a threatened species, so so mitigation measures might need to be considered throughout all phases of development projects. This page outlines what might be involved in surveys and preparing mitigation proposals, whilst examples of how we have assisted project teams are available elsewhere. If you want to discuss how we might help with your project, please contact us.

Key Info:

  • The Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) is protected from deliberate cruelty under the Wild Mammals Protection Act.
  • It is a Priority Species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, so county and environmental authority ecologists might require survey reports, mitigation measures and management plans to be submitted as part of the planning application.

Harvest mice live in long tussocky grassland, reed-beds, hedgerows, farm land and around woodland edges. They are principally vegetarian, eating seeds and fruits, although they will also eat invertebrates. They usually build a spherical nest of tightly woven grass, high-up in the tall grasses, in which the female will give birth to around six young. Harvest mice are often active throughout the year.

Harvest mice are thought to have become scarcer in recent years because of changes in habitat management and agricultural methods.

Surveys

Our surveys will usually include:

  • Searches of local ecological databases for evidence of sightings in the local area.
  • A review of other potential sources of information relating to local populations of Harvest mice.
  • Examination of the habitats within and around the subject area for suitable nesting locations.
  • Searching appropriate habitats for abandoned summer nests.

Survey reports will give details of the survey work undertaken, advise on the likelihood of Harvest mice making use of your proposed development site and its immediate surrounds and provide advice and guidance on avoiding or reducing the impact of the development on these creatures, in order to help satisfy any requirements of the planning authorities.

Our surveys are conducted in accordance with practices and techniques approved by national ecological and nature conservation organisations, environmental agencies and regional ecologists.