Wood Mouse
Featured in: Year 1: Animals, including humans
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Wood Mouse
Mammal
A small, nocturnal rodent with large eyes and ears, common in woods and gardens.
How to identify:
Look for its sandy-brown fur, large black eyes, prominent ears, and a long tail that is usually the same length as its body.
💡 Fun Facts
- A wood mouse can jump almost a metre in the air to escape from danger.
- They are excellent climbers and will scale plants to find seeds and berries.
- They often store food, such as seeds and nuts, in underground burrows for the winter.
Name Story
Apodemus sylvaticus
means “the woodland mouse that lives away from people”
What does its name mean?
- Apodemus — away from homeGreek apo 'away from' + dēmos 'people'
- sylvaticus — of the woodsLatinDecode this word →
Its name means the mouse that 'lives away from people' — and it does, out in the fields, hedgerows and woods, unlike the house mouse that moves in with us.