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What are Field Mice?

Niki Foster
Niki Foster
Niki Foster
Niki Foster

The term field mouse may actually refer to a number of different animals. In North America, small voles, particularly the meadow vole, are popularly called field mice. In Europe and Asia, various Apodemus species are called field mice, and field mice appear in South America as Akodon species, also called akodonts.

Meadow voles are native to Alaska, Canada, and the northern and eastern United States. These field mice are characterized by their cylindrical bodies, short legs, and short ears and tails. Their fur ranges in color from silver-gray to dark brown. Meadow voles are typically 16 cm (6.3 inches) long and weigh 50 g (1.8 oz). One subspecies of field mouse, the Florida salt marsh vole, is endangered, while the Gull Island vole of Gull Island, New York became extinct around the turn of the 20th century.

Field mice can actually refer to a number of small mammals that are commonly found in large, grassy spaces.
Field mice can actually refer to a number of small mammals that are commonly found in large, grassy spaces.

American field mice may be kept as pets, but they must be fed fresh grass and seeds daily. Dandelion, clover, and sunflower seeds are some of their favorite foods. While most meadow voles live for only about a year, they can live for up to three years in captivity.

There are at least 20 Apodemus species in Europe and Asia classified as field mice. They range from around 70 to 140 mm (2.8 to 5.5 inches) in length, in addition to their tails. Some Eurasian field mice have a fairly small range, such as the Korean field mouse, which inhabits northeastern Asia, including parts of Russia, China, and Korea. On the other hand, some species have a very large range of territory. The striped field mouse lives from Europe to Japan, and the wood mouse ranges from Great Britain and Scandinavia to southern Europe.

There are more than 20 species of field mice found in Europe and Asia.
There are more than 20 species of field mice found in Europe and Asia.

There are also numerous species of Akodon; currently 41 are recognized. While akodonts are sometimes referred to as field mice, they are more commonly called grass mice. Akodonts span most of South America, but are absent from the southern and western extremes of the country, as well as from the Amazon lowlands.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly are field mice?

Field mice, commonly referred to as meadow or wood mice, are small rodents typically found in fields and wooded areas. They belong to the genus Apodemus, with the most widespread species in Europe being the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus). These creatures are known for their brown fur, long tails, and big eyes and ears, which aid in their nocturnal lifestyle.

How do field mice differ from house mice?

Field mice are generally larger than house mice and have longer tails in proportion to their body size. They have a more prominent, less uniform coloration, often with a white underbelly, compared to the more uniform grey or brown fur of house mice. Field mice are also more adapted to outdoor environments, while house mice have evolved to live in close quarters with humans.

What do field mice eat?

Field mice are omnivorous creatures with a diet that includes seeds, nuts, fruits, and insects. They have a particular fondness for seeds and will often store them in underground burrows for the winter. Their eating habits play a crucial role in seed dispersal, contributing to the health of their ecosystems.

How do field mice impact their ecosystem?

Field mice are integral to their ecosystems, serving as both prey and predator. They aid in seed dispersal and aeration of the soil through their burrowing activities. However, they can also impact reforestation negatively by eating tree seeds. Predators like owls, foxes, and snakes rely on them as a food source, making them a key component of the food web.

Are field mice considered pests?

While field mice play a beneficial role in nature, they can become pests when their habitat overlaps with human environments. They may damage crops, gardens, and sometimes invade homes in search of food or shelter, especially during colder months. In such cases, they can pose health risks by spreading diseases and causing property damage.

How can one prevent field mice infestations?

Preventing field mice infestations involves sealing entry points to homes, reducing clutter, and maintaining clean surroundings to eliminate food sources. Outdoors, keeping grass cut short and eliminating debris can discourage nesting. Use of humane traps and natural predators like barn owls can also help manage field mouse populations without resorting to harmful poisons.

Niki Foster
Niki Foster

In addition to her role as a AllThingsNature editor, Niki enjoys educating herself about interesting and unusual topics in order to get ideas for her own articles. She is a graduate of UCLA, where she majored in Linguistics and Anthropology.

Learn more...
Niki Foster
Niki Foster

In addition to her role as a AllThingsNature editor, Niki enjoys educating herself about interesting and unusual topics in order to get ideas for her own articles. She is a graduate of UCLA, where she majored in Linguistics and Anthropology.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon132788

extinct? well, just caught one in my home and took it to a pet shop as it did not look like ones I have seen before. they assured me it was a field mouse, not a weed rat or a reg. mouse. just a good old iowa field mouse. I came home looked it up and sure enough, that's what it is. hope it does well where I left it.

anon88006

we found a baby mouse at work. thought we would keep till spring but don't know if will survive on his own if we let him go. can he survive.? i feel bad he is living in a cage on top of my refrigerator but he eats real well and he is cute. any info?

anon66684

they are not extinct.

Angie619

Hi ;-) I recently moved to the country, and being now we're approaching winter I find these little mic getting in the house somehow, it saddens me to find them dead via my cat, but just a couple of night ago I was sitting at my computer and heard this little thing making noise, I couldn't figure where it was coming from and then found out, my speaker system to my computer, I have this one part that sits behind my monitor and it has a what I believe is an air hole in the front well it's an opening about 1 1/2" in diameter, well the little critter is living in there, for the past two night I put a piece of bread on my desk pon going up to bed and in the morning I see it's gone, last night the piece I left was a bit large, like a third of a hamburger bun, lol I came down this morning and sure enough my thoughts of this cute little creature is definitely living in my speaker housing, the bread is in the hole opening, o.k. I knew this would be long lol, here's my questions,

o these little creatures carry any disease? would I be able to care for it?? do they eat regular mice food you would get in a pet store??

I was thinking of getting one of those habitrails and keeping it in there until Spring and then release it, I did catch one and let it out but now it's colder out there soon there will be snow and I can't put it out, so any info. would be greatly appreciated ;-) thanks much & enjoy your day everyone ;-))

anon17385

We found a little field mouse at our credit union, and don't know what to do with it...He looks really small, like a baby, but he is eating some mouse treats we bought for him...What should we do with him? I'd hate to throw him outside, because he is so tiny! Please Help!

anon16890

My cat just brought one to the porch. So the kids have grabbed it up and put it in a cage. Now to see if it survives as a cute pet and not as lunch for our cat outside.

bob1954

found one in middle of kitchen of course as an animal lover i let it outside with cheese it's breathing but not moving from i left it. scared i think. any reason why it's not moving from the spot i left it. yes again it's breathing

anon9430

i love field mice... ... they are so cute!!! i wish they weren't extinct... :'(

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    • Field mice can actually refer to a number of small mammals that are commonly found in large, grassy spaces.
      By: Ryhor Zasinets
      Field mice can actually refer to a number of small mammals that are commonly found in large, grassy spaces.
    • There are more than 20 species of field mice found in Europe and Asia.
      By: ilynx_v
      There are more than 20 species of field mice found in Europe and Asia.