Endangered Harvest Mice Released in National Park

A project aimed at re-establishing a local breeding population has seen over 300 harvest mice released within a national park. Steve Mills and Hilary Koll, residents of Hawsker near Whitby, are spearheading this initiative, which received a £4,200 government grant. Approximately five years ago, they acquired a pasture field within the North York Moors National Park, where they observed a particular type of grass that harvest mice preferred. Harvest mice, historically common across the UK, are now categorized as Near Threatened and appear on the Red List of British Mammals. These small creatures, weighing approximately the same as a two-pence coin, face predation from animals like cats, owls, and crows. In the field they purchased, Ms. Koll and Mr. Mills undertook efforts to plant trees and construct ponds, observing the gradual development of a habitat rich in birds, butterflies, and bees. Ms. Koll stated, “In different patches of the field, we noticed a certain type of grass, cocksfoot, started to dominate.” She added, “In researching this grass, it turned out to be the species most favoured by harvest mice, and so there our journey began.” For constructing their distinctive woven nests, harvest mice require environments characterized by dense vegetation, including long grass and reeds. To ensure the creation of an appropriate environment for the mice, Mr. Mills and Mrs. Koll collaborated with the Whitby Naturalists’ Club, the Yorkshire Rewilding Network, and Derek Gow Consultancy, recognized experts in UK small mammals. Funding for the scheme was provided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Farming in Protected Landscapes initiative.