rozatoare.pdf

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Celebrating Cornwall's Mammals - from dormice to dolphins!

A Guide to the Small Mammals of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Contents

Page

1 Introduction

2-3 Mice

4-5 Voles

6-7 Shrews

8-9 Rats

10-11 Nests

12 Feeding remains

13 Droppings and footprints

14 Further information and reading

Illustrations by Jenny King.



Introduction

There are thought to be 11 species of small mammal in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly,nearly half of the total number of landmammal species found in the county. Small mammals typically do not exceed 130mm from head to body.For the purpose of this guide however we have also included both rats and water voles,not classed as small mammals,but sometimes confusedwith the smaller mammal species.Small mammals are elusive creatures,many are nocturnal and very shy;as a result they canbe difficult to study. Our knowledge and understanding of their distributions across the County,as well as their populations

and habitat preferences,is lacking.

The primary purpose, therefore, of producing this guide is to assist in the recognition of the small mammal species (mice,voles,shrews and rats) and to encourage their recording. The guide is divided into seven sections, each one giving clearillustrations of each small mammal, as well as the tracks and signs they leave behind. Descriptions of the key identificationfeatures and further details relating to the species in Cornwall and Scilly are given in the accompanying text boxes.

A simple recording form is included with this guide to aid recording. All you have to do is record what mammal species yousee,whereandwhenyou see them,andwho you are. Whether you see a Wood Mouse on your bird table,a shrew brought

in by your cat,a Hazel nut gnawed by a Dormouse or a Harvest Mouse nest,we would like to know!

The recording form can be photocopied and taken into the field with you. Further copies can be obtained from theEnvironmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (ERCCIS) or downloaded from our websitewww.cornwallwildliferecords.co.uk. All completed recording forms should be sent to ERCCIS (address given below).

By recording when and where we see our small mammals we can monitor their distributions and gain a greater understandingof their populations and status within the County. This information will enable us to work towards conserving them.

We hopeAn identification guide to the small mammals of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will inspire you to find,recognise,recordand enjoy the small mammals found throughout Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Alex HowieMammal's Project Co-ordinatorERCCIS,Five Acres,Allet,TRURO,Cornwall,TR4 9DJ

Page 1



Wood Mouse

Large ears,eyes andhind feet,long tail,small yellowishstripe/mark on chest

Red/brown on top,grey/white undersideyellow/orange streakon chest betweenforelegs

< 75%of head and

body length,blackfur on the top,palebelow

Woodland,gardens,farmland,grassland,scrub,sand dunes

Mainly nocturnal

Common

House Mouse

Large ears,smallereyes compared toWood Mouse,pointynose,greasy fur,musky scent

Grey/brown on topand underside,greasy fur

70-95%of head-

body length,brown/pink all over,scaly with some fur,ringed

Gardens,farmland,farm buildings,hedgerows

Mainly nocturnal

Common

Harvest Mouse

Smallest of the mice,blunt muzzle,hairyears - relatively small

Golden brown top,white underside

Prehensile tail,

black/pink all over,with some fur,tip of tail prehensile

Field margins,cerealfarmland,long grassand hay meadows,hedgerows,reedbeds

Mainly nocturnal

Nationally under -recorded

Dormouse

Short muzzle,prominent eyes,longblack whiskers,veryfurry tail

Orange/brown ontop,pale buff underside

Slightly shorter than

head-body length,very furry

Woodland/coppicedwoodland,hedgerows,scrub

Nocturnal,hibernatesOct/Nov - April

Nationally rare

Yellow-neckedMouseBigger than WoodMouse,yellowishcollar across chest,large eyes ears andhind feet

Red/brown on top,pale grey underside,yellow/brown bandacross the chest

Equal to head-body

length,black fur onthe top

Woodland,gardens,hedgerows

Nocturnal

Very unlikely to beseen in Cornwall

Page 3

Distinguishingfeatures

Colour

Tail

Habitat

Active



Voles

Field VoleMicrotus agrestis

Size:Head-body 90-115mm,Tail 18-49mmLess obvious ears

Water Vole Arvicola terrestr is

Size:Head-body 120-235mm,Tail 40-146mmComparatively larger

Bank VoleClethr iomys glareolus Size:Head-body 90-110mm,Tail 36-72mmMore obvious ears

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cmPage 4 Illustrations are not to scale


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Bank Vole

Reddish fur colour,larger earsand eyes and longer tail thanField Vole

Red/brown,grey on flanks

50%of head-body length, fur

dark on top,white on underside

Woodland,gardens,farmland,grassland,scrub,hedgerows,banks

Day and night

Common

Field Vole

Greyish fur colour,shaggier furthan Bank Vole,greyish furcolour,smaller ears,very shorttail

Dark grey/brown on top,greyunderside,paws and neck,shabby coat

30%of head/body length,pale

brown fur all over

Open woodland,scrub,grassland,farmland,road verges,sand dunes

Day and night

Common

Water Vole

Blunt muzzle,very small ears andshorter tail compared to a rat,makes a 'plop' noise as enterswater

Dark brown

55-77%of head-body length,

slightly furry

Fresh water,steep river bankswith good vegetation cover

Day and night

Very unlikely to be seen inCornwall


Colour

Tail

Habitat

Active



Shrews

Common ShrewSorex araneus

Size:Head-body 48-80mm,Tail 24-44mmPygmy Shrew Sorex minutus

Size:Head-body 40-60mm,Tail 32-46mm

Water Shrew Neomys fodiens

Size:Head-body 67-96mm,Tail 45-77mmWhite-toothed ShrewCrocidura suaveolens


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Common Shrew

Dark velvety hair, tailshorter than bodylength, three tone coat,red tips to teeth

Three tone - dark brownback,paler sides,grey/white underside

50%of head/body length,young have furry tails,adults have a few stiff hairs underneath andbald on top

Woodland,gardens,farmland,grassland,scrub,road verges

Mainly nocturnal

Common

Pygmy Shrew

Smallest of our shrews,long hairy tail,two tonecoat,domed head,redtips to teeth

Brown back,paleunderside

65-70%of head/bodylength,proportionallylonger,thicker andhairier than the othershrew species

Woodland edge,gardens,farmland,grassland,heathland,sand dunes

Day and night

Desperately under-recorded

Water Shrew

Largest of our shrews,black and white coat,mainly aquatic,red tipsto teeth

Black on top,whiteunderside

Slightly shorter thanhead-body length,prominent keel of stiff white silvery hairs onunderside used forswimming

Generally close to water,muddy river banks

Nocturnal

Under-recorded

White-toothed Shrew

White teeth,prominentears compared to theother three species

Red/brown on top,yellowish underside

Hairy

All habitats on the Islesof Scilly,especially heathland and seashore

Mainly nocturnal

Found on the Isles of Scilly,not in Cornwall


Colour

Tail

Habitat

Active



Rats

Black Rat Rattus rattus


Brown Rat / Common Rat Rattus norvegicus


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Brown Rat

Large relativelyhairless ears,silent as enterswater

Grey/brown,shabby coat

80-100%of head body length,hairless withdarker skin on top,thicker than Black Rat,scaly

Generally where there are people and foodsupplies,field margins,farms,watercourses

Mainly nocturnal

Common

Black Rat

Very pointed nose,black colour, large hairlessears,not found in water

Black,glossy fur

100-130%of head-body length, hairless andthinner than tail of Brown Rat

Near buildings,ships,particularly in ports.

Nocturnal

Very unlikely to be seen in Cornwall


Colour

Tail

Habitat

Active

M l f d t



Nests

Page 10 Illustrations are not to scale

Dormouse nest

Bank vole burrowNote:<3cm diameterFood collected near entrance

Rat burrow6-8cm diameter

Note:large spoil heapat entrance.Burrowsconnected by networkof runs

Harvest Mouse nest

More commonly found nests

Field Vole run

k l di ld l



Dormouse

Hedge,deciduouswoodland,hedgerow,densecoppice (esp.Hazel)and scrub.

Sometimes make useof old bird nests

Tightly woven out of strippedHoneysuckle.Rarelymoss and leaves

About 10cmdiameter,15cmdiameter if breedingnest

Usually 5m+.Sometimes lower if in shrub layer or

hedge

Lacks an obviousentrance

Bank Vole

Woodland,scrub,banks,hedges,underground,in logsor in tree roots

Woodland:feathers,moss, leaves.Grassland:moss,grass

Ball shaped

Ground level/ underground

Obvious exit/entrancehole.Manyentrances and nestchambers

Wood Mouse

Nests oftenunderground,woodland,arableland,Bramble andBracken scrub,

gardens,dunes

Leaves,moss,shredded grass

Usually undergroundbut will nest in birdand Dormouseboxes.Can haveseveral chambers

Underground

One

Field Vole

Grasslands,at baseof grass tussocks,open woodland,damp ground,youngforestry plantations

Finely shreddedgrass

Spherical

Tussock height,<1m

Several

Harvest Mouse

Grass tussocks,dense vegetation -cereals,herbs,Brambles,rushes,haymeadows, reedbeds

Grass

Up to 10cm,largerin winter and lessspherical

30-60cm

One

Whereto findnest

Material

Size

Heightaboveground

Entrance

di i



Feeding remains

Dormouse Tooth/chisel markson the surface,smooth,scraped outinner ring

Wood Mouse Tooth/chisel marks onthe surface and inneredge of hole

Bank VoleNo gnaw marks on surface,tooth/chisel marks oninner edge of hole

SquirrelSmooth split in twofrom top to bottom byadult, more of a jaggedsplit by juveniles.

Field Vole2-3cm longPiles of chewed grass stems found amongst runs inlong grassCut at 45º

Often found next to droppings

Page 12 Illustrations are not to scale

Water Vole10cm longPiles of chewed grass,reed or pith from rushes

Cut at 45ºFound near watercourses

Chewed grass

D i d f t i t



Droppings and footprints

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Brown Rat15-20mm long,5-6mm thickFoul smelling

Tapered/pointed at one end,

black/brown

Brown Rat

Hind foot:3.3cm long,2.8cm wide,5 toesFore foot:1.8cm long,2.5cm wide,4 toes

Black RatHind foot:2.1cm long,2cm wide,5 toesFore foot:1.5cm long,1.7cm wide,4 toes

Field Vole6-7mm long,2-3mm thickOdourlessCylindrical, found in smallpiles along runs,fibrous

House Mouse6mm long,2mm thickStrong,musky smellLike all mice droppingsthey are very hard whendry and do not crumble(unlike bat droppingswhich do crumble)

Water Vole8-12mm long,4-5mmthickOdourlessCylindrical,green,

deposited in latrine sites

Further information



Further informationCornwall Mammal Group c/o Cornwall Wildlife Trust

Five Acres,Allet,Truro,TR4 9DJ (01872) 273939Web-site:www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk

Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (ERCCIS)c/o Cornwall Wildlife TrustWeb-site:www.erccis.co.uk

Mammals Trust UK 15 Cloisters House,8 Battersea Park Rd,London,SW8 4BG

(0207) 498 5262,web-site:www.mtuk.org

The Mammal Society2B,Inworth Street,London,SW11 3EP (0207) 3502200

Web-site:www.mammal.org.uk

Further readingA Guide to British mammal tracks and signs (2001)

S.Bullion,Field Studies Council.

Animal Tracks and Signs (2001)P.Bang,and P.Dahlstrom,Oxford.

A Handbook for Biological Recorders (2000)CISFBR and ERCCIS

Collins Field Guide to Mammals (1993)D.Macdonald,and P.Barrett,Collins,London.

How to Find and Identify Mammals (2003)G. Sargent and P.Morris,The Mammal Society.

Mice and voles (1993) J.Flowerdew,Whittet Books

Environmental RecordsCentre for Cornwalland the Isles of Scilly

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