# European Wood Mouse (*Apodemus sylvaticus*) The European Wood Mouse is a small, cute creature with big ears and a long tail. They love to explore forests and fields, and they are very good at hiding from predators! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Wood Mouse ![European Wood Mouse](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Apodemus_sylvaticus_%28Sardinia%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apodemus_sylvaticus_%28Sardinia%29.jpg) ## Appearance The European Wood Mouse has soft, yellowish-brown fur on its back and sides, which sharply contrasts with a white or greyish-white belly. It also has noticeably large ears and prominent black eyes, along with a long, slender tail, often as long as its body and head combined. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Muridae - **Genus:** Apodemus ## Interesting facts - Its long tail, almost as long as its body, helps it balance perfectly when climbing trees. - They accidentally plant new trees by burying seeds and sometimes forgetting where they hid them! - This tiny mouse can jump over 80 cm, that's nearly 10 times its own body length! - Wood mice build cozy underground homes with separate rooms for food storage and sleeping! ## Special abilities - **Tail Escape:** European Wood Mouse can break off its tail if caught by a predator, helping them escape to safety from danger. - **Winter Hoarder:** European Wood Mouse can store food like seeds and nuts in its burrows, helping it survive cold, lean winters. - **Super Leaper:** European Wood Mouse can jump surprisingly high and far, allowing it to quickly flee or navigate tricky terrain. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 8-11 cm - **Weight:** 0.015-0.035 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-3 years - **Speed:** 15 km/h - **Litter Size:** 4-7 - **Gestation:** 25-26 days ## Diet & Feeding An omnivore, munching on seeds, nuts, berries, fungi, and insects depending on the season! - **Primary Foods:** Acorns, Hazel nuts, Berries, Beetles, Larvae, Fungi - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Tawny Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tawny-owl) (*Strix aluco*) — A common nocturnal predator. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Preys on wood mice in forests and fields. - **Eaten by:** Weasel (*Mustela nivalis*) — Small predator, can pursue mice into burrows. - **Eats:** Pedunculate Oak (*Quercus robur*) — Relies heavily on its nutritious acorns for food. - **Eats:** [Common Hazel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-hazel) (*Corylus avellana*) — Consumes its nuts, a vital food source. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a mouse, it's best to watch it from a distance and not try to touch it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify European Wood Mouse? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is European Wood Mouse? 8-11 cm ### How much does European Wood Mouse weigh? 0.015-0.035 kg ### How long does European Wood Mouse live? 1-3 years ### How fast can European Wood Mouse move? 15 km/h ### What does European Wood Mouse eat? An omnivore, munching on seeds, nuts, berries, fungi, and insects depending on the season! ### Where is European Wood Mouse usually found? Forests ### How does European Wood Mouse hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [European Wood Mouse: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-wood-mouse)