# Old World Field Mice (*Apodemus*) Old World Field Mice are small, cute creatures that love to scurry around in fields and meadows. They have soft fur and big eyes, making them fun to watch as they explore their homes. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Old World Field Mice](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Apodemus_sylvaticus.JPG&width=800) Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Pethan assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apodemus_sylvaticus.JPG) ## Appearance The Old World Field Mice has a sleek, reddish-brown fur coat on its back, fading to a white or grey underside. It features large, dark eyes and prominent ears, with a tail that is almost as long as its body, making it visually distinct from house mice. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Muridae - **Genus:** Apodemus ## Interesting facts - A single field mouse can stash thousands of seeds in its underground pantry for winter. - Their tails can break off if caught by a predator, allowing a speedy escape! - They can squeeze through openings as thin as a pencil, making them hard to catch. - They communicate with high-pitched squeaks, some too high for human ears to hear! ## Special abilities - **Acrobatic Escapist:** Old World Field Mice can leap impressive distances because of strong hind legs that help them evade predators quickly. - **Underground Architect:** Old World Field Mice can dig complex burrows that help them store food and create safe nesting sites. - **Night Navigator:** Old World Field Mice has exceptional hearing and smell that helps them find food and avoid danger in the dark. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 8-12 cm - **Weight:** 0.015-0.045 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-2 years - **Speed:** 15 km/h - **Litter Size:** 4-8 - **Gestation:** 21-26 days ## Diet & Feeding These small omnivores enjoy a varied diet of seeds, nuts, berries, and tiny insects. - **Primary Foods:** Seeds, Nuts, Berries, Insects, Fungi - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Barn Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barn-owl) (*Tyto alba*) — hunts them using its silent flight at night. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — preys on them in fields and woodlands. - **Eaten by:** Least Weasel (*Mustela nivalis*) — hunts them even in their underground burrows. - **Depends on:** Common Oak (*Quercus robur*) — relies on its acorns for winter food storage. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [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. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch from a distance and don't try to catch wild mice; they are best left in nature. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Old World Field Mice? 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 Old World Field Mice? 8-12 cm ### How much does Old World Field Mice weigh? 0.015-0.045 kg ### How long does Old World Field Mice live? 1-2 years ### How fast can Old World Field Mice move? 15 km/h ### What does Old World Field Mice eat? These small omnivores enjoy a varied diet of seeds, nuts, berries, and tiny insects. ### Where is Old World Field Mice usually found? Grasslands ### How does Old World Field Mice 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: [Old World Field Mice: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/old-world-field-mice)