Fun Tree Mouse Facts For Kids

The adorable, little tree mouse is a long-tailed mouse belonging to the Muridae family of rodents. The scientific name of this species is Apodemus sylvaticus and it is also called the wood mouse or the common field mouse.

This species is native to Britain and is also found across the European continent,  Papa New Guinea, and parts of Indonesia.

The wood mouse is characterized by its brown fur, long tail, large ears, and eyes. These animals are found in grassy areas with a lot of trees, and can even be found in your field or garden!

The wood mouse is an omnivore and has a diet consisting of nuts, seeds, worms, and small insects.

In addition to this, the wood mouse is nocturnal and only active in the dark, especially during the winter season. This long-tailed rodent is known for its unique bouncing motion and its ability to jump very high using its tail.

Wood mice live in burrows and nests within the ground and in the trees. They burrow into the trees, creating a nesting chamber within the tree bark.

These animals are widespread and have a stable population distribution, and hence, have been classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. Although these furry, brown animals are rodents, they are very cute to look at! Read further to discover the wonderful little world of the tree mouse and do check out our nutria facts and mongoose facts pages.

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Tree Mouse Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a tree mouse?

The tree mouse or wood mouse is a rodent belonging to the Muridae family of rodents and the genus Apodemus.

What class of animal does a tree mouse belong to?

The tree mouse or wood mouse is a mammal belonging to the Muridae family of the Apodemus genus.

How many tree mice are there in the world?

The exact population of the wood mouse in the world is unknown, but it has been estimated that 39 million wood mice currently live in Britain.

Where does a tree mouse live?

Tree mice or wood mice are native to and found across Europe, the British Isles, Indonesia, Papa New Guinea, and to the east of the Himalayan and Altai mountains.

What is a tree mouse's habitat?

The wood mouse or tree mouse habitat consists of grassy areas and fields with a lot of trees, including grasslands, cultivated fields, woodlands, and forests. They can also be found in your field or garden!

Who do tree mice live with?

Tree mice or wood mice are solitary in nature, which means that they live and forage by themselves. However, during mating season, females often mate with many different males and remain very social throughout this period.

How long does a tree mouse live?

Tree mice or wood mice have a short lifespan of fewer than twelve months. Only a few adults have been observed to survive from one summer to the next summer. The average tree mouse lives for 8-10 months.

How do they reproduce?

Just like other mice, such as the deer mouse, wood mice are viviparous in nature, which means they give birth to live young. Sexual reproduction takes place in this species and the breeding months are from March to October.

Females undergo six successive pregnancies per season, giving birth to a litter of four to seven pups each time. Each pregnancy has a gestation period of 21 - 26 days.

Females give birth to their babies in special nests or nest chambers within burrows made of grass and leaves. Females reach sexual maturity at 0.49 oz (14 g), whereas males reach sexual maturity at 0.88 oz (25 g).

What is their conservation status?

The wood mouse has been classified as Least Concern by the IUCN due to its widespread distribution and stable population. However, these rodents often fall prey to large birds, snakes, cats, dogs, and other larger animals.

Tree Mouse Fun Facts

What do tree mice look like?

Tree mice or wood mice have soft, light brown fur with a greyish, yellowish, or reddish tinge and a long tail, and a light grey or white underbelly. They also have a yellow spot on the throat and have white feet.

These mice also have large ears and eyes to allow them to see at night and to avoid predators.

They also have self-sharpening and eternally growing teeth. The head and body length of this species vary from 2.3-6 in (60-150 mm). Females of this species have six nipples.

How cute are they?

The tree mouse or the wood mouse is considered to be very cute, despite the fact that it is a rodent. Their large ears, eyes, and long bushy tails make them seem very adorable to look at. They have a small head and body which makes them look very cute and cuddly.

How do they communicate?

These mice use a combination of sight, sound, and smell to communicate. These mice have a highly developed sense of smell, which allows them to detect food or predators nearby.

This sense of smell allows them to determine the location of seeds and worms underground with accuracy. They also have large brown ears that allow them to hear small sounds made by fellow mice and predators. Their big eyes have the ability to see in the dark, allowing them to avoid predators and find food.

How big is a tree mouse?

Tree mice or wood mice have a long tail, large eyes, and large ears. They grow within a range of 3.1-4.05 in (8.1-10.3 cm) in length and a range of 0.45-0.95 oz (13-27g) in weight.

They have a long tail that grows within the range of 2.79-3.7 in (7.1-9.5 cm). This makes them almost two times smaller than the cotton rat, which is approximately 7 in (17 cm) in length.

How fast can a tree mouse move?

The exact speed of the tree mouse is unknown. However, they can use their tails to jump very high and very fast. This allows them to avoid predators and escape to safety.

How much does a tree mouse weigh?

Tree mice or wood mice can weigh anywhere between 0.45-0.95 oz (13-27g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no specific names given to the males and females of species. They are simply referred to as a tree mouse male or a tree mouse female.

What would you call a baby tree mouse?

Wood mouse young can be referred to as a pinkie or a pup. They can also be referred to as young.

What do they eat?

The tree mouse diet consists of a variety of plants and small insects and worms. They eat seeds, fruits, earthworms, caterpillars, and other small invertebrates.

Are they dangerous?

Although wood mice don't pose a direct risk to humans, they have the ability to spread disease and cause damage to your field, crops, and other property. Hence, they are considered to be pests, but not dangerous.

Would they make a good pet?

It is not advisable to keep the wood mouse as a pet. This is because they carry and spread diseases, including the deadly Hantavirus, which can severely impact humans.

Did you know...

Wood mice are nocturnal in nature, which means that they are lethargic during the day and are active in the dark. However, during the breeding season, females are active during the day and in the dark to collect food. Males remain in their burrows and nests during the day.

Wood mouse or tree mouse adaptation has allowed members of this species to escape from predators if they are caught by their long tails. These mice have the ability to shed the rear portion of their tails if caught. This portion of their tails never regrow.

The wood mouse has the ability to jump very high using its tail. Members of this species are characterized by their ability to jump and are known for their unique bouncing motion which is often compared to the hopping motion of a kangaroo. They are also exceptional climbers like the squirrel.

The tree mouse is also called field mouse as they are often found in fields and cultivated land. They are especially active during harvest season, during which they feed on the harvest crops and nuts.

Members of this species do not hibernate, but they do become extremely lethargic and inactive during the winter. Hence, they remain in their burrows and nests during the winter season.

These rodents are extremely adaptable, due to which they have a strong and steady population all over the world. They can also be found in small fields, crop cultivations, hedges, and gardens due to their adaptable nature.

These animals are also considered to be very intelligent. They make use of leaves and other materials while they are traveling for navigational purposes. They make a trail or map of sorts with leaves to allow them to return to their homes.

Are tree mice endangered?

No, tree mice mammals are not endangered. In fact, they have been classified as Least Concern by the IUCN due to their abundant and stable population. However, they are often eaten by snakes, cats, dogs, and large birds.

What are the different types of tree mice?

There are many different types of tree mice, some of which include the Asian tree mouse, the Malabar spiny tree mouse (Platacanthomys lasiurus), the blind tree mouse (T cinereus), the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis), the Dollmans tree mouse, the field mouse, and the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus).

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these rice rat facts and gopher facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Tree mouse coloring pages.