Appearance
The back is brown to greyish brown, sometimes a colour variety to black. Belly is lighter to light brown. The field mouse has a plump body, a puggy nose and eyes and ears that are hidden in the fur. The animal makes a short-haired, sleek impression. Adult field mice are 9.5 to 12 cm tall. The little tail is much shorter than the body which is 4.5 cm long (circa 1/3 physical length). Newborn born field mice are bald and blind.
Development
On average female mice give birth to 5 to 6 litters a year (sometimes 3 to 7). Size of nest: 5 to 6 young. Gestation period is 3 weeks. Nursing period is unknown, but probably 3 to 4 weeks. Young are sexually mature after 25 days. Maximum life expectancy is 1 year to 16 months.
Way of living
The field mouse is an excellent digger. It prefers to live on dry, sunny and sheltered places, especially with rough and dense plant growth. They feed on grain crops, bulbs, potatoes, cabbage, carrots and also tree-bark. Undergroundholes and holes digged by themselves are hiding-places. Mostly horizontally, but sometimes perpendicularly or diagonally downup to 60 cm deep. Nests on 15 to 30 cm. The exits of the nest are always opened and are mutually connectedby passagewaysthat are characteristic for the field mouse. Tracks of the field mouse are the holes, droppings 0.4 to 0.8 cm long and 0.2 cm thick, greenish, around holes and at ‘eating places’. Field mice rarely if ever climb or jump.
Damage
Gnawing damage to the bark at the foot of young trees. Carrying mud fever, damage in pasture lands by undermining the grass or the farmland by gnawing. Damage in orchards can be quite serious(rings of trees).
Prevention
Prevent to create a biotope that is suitable for field mice, so no grounds with rough growth. Good pasture management, keep grass short and even, keep ditch banksclean, keep growth short. Orchard protection, line of trees in black soil. Remove falling fruit, pruningsandswath at windbreaks of trees, keep ground growth short.
Pest control
The EKO1000-system is the most effective, safest and most hygienic solution to control rats and mice.
