Wanted: children to rear harvest mice at home for wild release in Devon
Summary
Two 14-year-old girls in Devon, England, started a project called Wild Pets where children breed harvest mice at home to help bring the species back to the wild. The harvest mouse is the UK’s smallest native rodent, and the project aims to release hundreds of mice to revive their population in nature reserves.Key Facts
- Wild Pets was founded by Eva Wishart and Emily Smith, who successfully bred and released hundreds of harvest mice.
- The harvest mouse has a unique tail that can hold objects and helps it climb grass stems.
- Agricultural changes have made grassland habitats scarce, threatening harvest mice populations.
- Children aged 8 to 13 in Devon can join the project to breed mice at home and release them into the wild.
- The project offers training and provides mice and equipment for the breeding process.
- Previous releases into nature reserves have shown that the new mouse population can survive and reproduce in the wild.
- The project is supported by ecologists, local councils, and environmental organizations.
- The initiative aims to help children connect with nature and contribute to wildlife conservation.
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