The Mammal Society

For Evidence Based Conservation

 

National Harvest Mouse Survey

Click here for Survey Results

Our 2022/23 National Harvest Mouse Survey Season is now complete. Please send any data to science@themammalsociety.org, or your local coordinator. 

We need to know more about harvest mice

On the Red List for Britain’s Mammals, the harvest mouse is classified as Near Threatened in Britain. This means that they are at risk of becoming threatened with extinction in the near future. Unfortunately, we do not have good estimates of how many harvest mice there are in the wild, so we really have no idea how bad their situation is or what sort of conservation actions should be put in place.

This is why we’ve launched the National Harvest Mouse Survey across the United Kingdom. We’re looking for people across the UK who can get outside and look for harvest mice nests! Surveys do not take long and no prior experience or specialist equipment is required to carry them out; we explain all in our project protocol. 

Watch our video below to find out more.

So how can I get involved? 

Our National Harvest Mouse Survey runs from October to March each year, in line with when mice leave their nests. This means that this season’s Harvest Mouse Survey has begun. Keep an eye out on this webpage, and our social media channels, for updates about the upcoming 2023/24 season, and how to get involved. 

If you’re interested in volunteering to search for harvest mouse nests in your area in our upcoming surveys, can you fill out the short form below (click on ‘Sign Up Here’). We will add you to our list and keep you posted on the survey. Remember, no prior experience is needed! You can also email the team at science@themammalsociety.org.

If you’d prefer not to donate your time why not donate to our Harvest Mouse Appeal? You can learn more about this here.

If you do get involved with the survey, we’d love to follow along with your adventures! Please share your thoughts, photos, videos and more using our #NationalHarvestMouse hashtag.

 

Local Coordinators

Our National Harvest Mouse Survey relies on local coordinators, who provide information on local events, help to direct surveys and collect survey data. We already have a fantastic team of coordinators across the UK who will be joining us again for next season’s survey.

We do have some areas without coordinators though too! If you’re based in any Welsh county, Avon, Derbyshire, Flintshire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, London, Merseyside, Middlesex, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, Surrey, Warwickshire, the West Midlands, West Sussex or Yorkshire and would be interested in becoming a local coordinator then we’d particularly like to hear from you! Get in touch at science@themammalsociety.org for more information on how to get involved.

When is the next survey happening?

Our third annual National Harvest Mouse Survey will take place between October 2023 and March 2024. Harvest mouse surveys are carried out during these months so as not to disturb breeding harvest mouse nests. Surveys do not take long to carry out – they can be as long as you’d like! For more information please read our project protocol. Our timeline this year is as follows:

  • Now: Register your interest by emailing us at science@themammalsociety.org.
  • October – March: The Survey period! During this time training will also be held so you will be ready to hunt for those nests! 
  • March 2024 onwards: We will be analysing the records and let you know what we have found.

What does the survey involve?

We’ve written a helpful guide which explains exactly how to survey for harvest mice in your area! This is called our project protocol. It includes information on where and how you should be looking, how to identify a harvest mouse nest and how you should conduct your survey. See our handy diagram below to determine if you’ve just found a harvest mouse nest! 

Harvest mouse identification flow chart from Sarah Butcher and the Devon Harvest Mouse Project and the Mammal Society.

If you want to learn more about getting involved with the National Harvest Mouse Survey, you can watch our webinar below:

We have a lot of extra information to help you with your survey, including our risk assessment, instructions on using Mammal Mapper, health and safety and letter to landowners. Please have a look at these before starting your survey.

Useful Project Documents and Links

How can I record my data?

There are a number of ways that you can record data from conducted surveys! The Mammal Society’s Mammal Mapper App is geared up to record the information needed specifically for this project and more information on how to use the app for the survey is here. You can also simply report your survey findings directly to us via email to science@themammalsociety.org. However, if you would rather record your findings on paper or Excel you can use the following:

Harvest Mouse Survey Excel Recording Template

Harvest Mouse Survey Printable Recording Template

Frequently Asked Questions

Click the button below to expand answered frequently asked questions.

FAQs
Harvest mouse distribution (in green), taken from ‘Britain’s Mammals 2018: The Mammal Society’s Guide to their Population and Conservation Status.’

What is a harvest mouse? 

A harvest mouse is Britian’s smallest rodent. If you’d like to learn more about this mammal click here.

What do I do if I find a harvest mouse nest?

Will the survey involve handling mice?

No, the nest survey is non invasive and mice will not be captured or handled. Read more in our survey protocol. 

Will looking for nests disturb the mice?

No, the survey is taking place over the autumn and winter when nearly all nests will be empty, i.e. brown in colour with a visible exit hole. This is the best time to be able to spot nests without disturbing the animals. However, if you spot a green nest without an exit hole the nest could still be occupied, so record it but try not touch, remove or disturb the nest in any way.

I want to volunteer but I’ve never surveyed before and don’t want to go out on my own

We can put you in touch with trainers, coordinators and surveyors in your area. This way you will (Covid-permitting) be able to join a training session and learn exactly how to carry out the survey. The Mammal Society team and coordinators will also be able to help you find surveyors in your area so you do not have to go out on your own.

I already belong to a group that regularly surveys for harvest mice

We’d love to know more! We want to work with as many groups already conducting harvest mouse surveys as possible so we can work together to collect data. The aim of our survey plan is to make it as easy as possible for groups already conducting surveys to join in without having to change what they’re doing. Let us know on science@themammalsociety.org 

I’m not able to come on surveys but I still want to be involved

Let us know and we can put you on our mailing lists to forewarn you when regional or national meetings (probably virtual meetings) to discuss the results will be held (Fill in this form or email the team on science@themammalsociety.org ). You can also support the project by donating here. Unlike many organisations, the Mammal Society does not receive government funding so your donations are vital for us to continue our important work. 

Thank you for your interest in the project! To discover more about harvest mice click here.

#HarvestMouseSurvey

(C) Sarah Butcher