National Harvest Mouse Survey

Can YOU help Britain’s harvest mice?

If you are interested in being involved in the National Harvest Mouse Survey as a volunteer, trainer, or coordinator in your area, please fill out the short form here so we can add you to our list and keep you posted on the survey. You can also email the team on surveys@themammalsociety.org 

You can view the project protocol here (please note this is the protocol for the 2021/22 survey, there will be an updated version before the 2022/23 season begins). If you would like to support the project through a donation click here

Why harvest mice?

The harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) is Britain’s smallest rodent and, because of habitat loss and changes in farming practices, it is now thought to be in decline – but how much do we know about the British population of harvest mice and where they are found? 

Unfortunately, the answer is very little according to The Review of the Population and Conservation Status of British Mammals carried out by the Mammal Society in 2018. The IUCN-approved Red List of British Mammals now classifies the harvest mouse as Near Threatened in Great Britain and Critically Endangered in Scotland.

What we are doing

Autumn 2021 marks the start of our national harvest mouse survey! Groups of harvest mouse volunteers will be searching up and down the country for harvest mouse nests so we can record where this species has and has not been found. Some of you may have taken part in harvest mouse nest searches before, but if you have not, we can put you in touch with survey coordinators and trainers near you and surveyors in your area. You can register your interest through this form or contact the team at surveys@themammalsociety.org 

How to record on surveys?

The 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 will be available on this webpage soon. However, if you would rather record your findings on paper, there will also be a printable recording sheet available to download soon.

Let us know when you’re out! If you’re on social media, use #hmnestfest on your posts so we can share what surveys have been taking place!

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Project Documents and Links

Survey Protocol – (please note this is the protocol for the 2021/22 survey, there will be an updated version before the 2022/23 season begins).

Site survey recording template

Individual Nest Recording Template

Risk Assessment

Letter to Landowners

A Guide to Location Referencing

Health and Safety

Donate

Harvest mouse infographic

Nest Fest Game

Watch: Survey steering group member Amanda Lloyd talks about harvest mice

Watch: Devon Harvest Mouse Project Coordinator Sarah Butcher demonstrates how to look for nests

Watch: Kent Mammal Group’s Steve Kirk demonstrate how to use a walking sticking to search for nests

For surveyors interested in carrying out live trapping studies, you can find our guidance here and a recording sheet here.

Check out this handy harvest mouse identification flow chart from Sarah Butcher and the Devon Harvest Mouse Project:

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Project Timeline

Now – Onwards: Register your interest by filling in the Google Form or email surveys@themammalsociety.org 

September – March: The Survey period! During this time training will also be held so you will be ready to hunt for those nests! 

March 2022 onwards: We will be analysing the records and let you know what we have found. 

Keep an eye on the Calendar to see when surveys are happening in your area!

In order to keep a record of attendance for Covid-19 regulations in place now and in future, training and survey events will contain the date, time and general area along with a contact and email address. Please get in touch with the organiser through the provided email address to check availability and confirm the location of the event. 

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FAQS

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

• Record it on our Mammal Mapper app – this is free to download from your smartphone’s app store
• Fill out an online recording form here
• Email the team on surveys@themammalsociety.org 

Will the survey involve handling mice?

No, the nest survey is non invasive and mice will not be captured or handled.

Will looking for nests disturb the mice?

The survey is taking place over the autumn and winter when plants have died back. This is the best time to be able to spot nests without disturbing the animals.

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 surveys@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 surveys@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.