Okay, it's NOT such a wonderful pic. My camera won't zoom so close without going all grainy. But, this little critter surprised me a while ago by appearing underneath the bird feeders. I was relaxing on the deck when I first saw it, I thought it was a baby rabbit! I have lots of wild rabbits around here and it has the exact coloring of my wild rabbits... then I zoomed in with my camera... What on earth is that, I thought! I've never seen a mouse like that! It's NOT a regular small gray rodent variety, nor is it a RAT! They both have longer snouts. That's why I love Google searches!!!
This little critter is known as a "Meadow Vole or Field Mouse." This one is about as big as a guinea pig and I learned some interesting tidbits about them from my Google search. They are so cute!
1. They make tunnels or "runways" in tall grass and this one probably lives underneath my old screen house. It has a runway in the old dead grass that goes from the screen house to the bird feeders. That's how it seemed to just magically appear before me one day.
2. They are very shy and skidish creatures. The minute I tried to move closer with the camera, like lightning - it was back in the grass runway and gone!
3. They will have up to 12 litters per year of 11 to 12 babies per litter. THAT'S A LOT OF YOUNG!
4. They only live about a year and a half. Such a short life span. No wonder they have so many young!
5. They feed on young green shoots and plants in the spring and summer and live on seeds and nuts in the winter.
6. They are NOT likely to get into your house like the other disease carrying mice variety.
7. They have long hairless tails.
8. They feed in the day in the colder months and feed at night in the warmer months.
Okay . . he's cute! But, I'm standing on my chair until he leaves. :) Great catch, Maggie . . and it's a wonderful shot and has great clarity! Lovely color. How're you feeling . . gums okay?!
@fungirl Thank you very much, Kristen! Appreciate your time to view and comment on my pic.
@vskolnik Aww! Thank you, Vee! Apprecate your kind comments!
@darsphotos That's okay, Darlene! Don't worry about it. You came, you viewed and commented. =) Thank you!
@karenann ROFLOL! "Standing on your chair!" Too funny, Karen Ann! It's the other variety that will do that to me and snakes are worse! Your comments are very kind and thoughtful, gal! As always, much appreciated. Thank you!
so cute!
We call them "mulot" in french, and I am not totally ok with the point 6 :) I've found one in my living room and I've tried half an hour to make her understand she will be better OUTSIDE than inside.....she was hiding and running everywhere, and it is so tiny, and the color is the same than my wooden floor....but I've won, she finally ran away !
Hope you're feeling ok !
@cocobella I know I would freak if I found one in my house! Glad it decided to leave yours. I appreciate you telling me what it is called in French, too. I'll try to remember that! I am fine, Corinne. Thank you for asking and thank you for your comments! Hoping you're well, too! =) I was a very young child when we lived in Loan, France. I learned to speak French then, since French children were all I had for playmates. When we left in 1963 or 64 and came back to the states, I forgot all I had learned. Such a pity. It is true, if you don't use it - you lose it!
Just read what you wrote and what an interesting critter. I love it. Leave it to you to google and find out about it. Wow, lots of litters and such a short life span. Sad in a way. Glad it and its offspring will not likely get into your house. Helps you with your outside maintenance, LOL. Now to train its tribe of young to prune trees you will have it made. I LOVE this photo. You did great, Maggie.
@marlboromaam you're right I've the same problem with my english, my daughter who is going to an international school is making fun of me and my bad english and strong french accent (kids are cruel !).
Feel free to speak to me in French !
I've lived close to Loan, in Compiegne, very nice area, but I'm from the south of France...with the mediterranean sea and the sun!
Mags....... Be careful...... We had them in our garden last year. They will destroy a garden from beneath ground and are very hard to "evict"! You already know they are prolific. I got an interesting series of photos of a fox catching one.
@cocobella Kids can be so cruel! It's okay though, Corinne. If I don't understand you, I'll ask for clarification. LOL! I can remember some phrases in French but would not have clue how to spell them. Wow! You lived in a much nicer area, I'm sure! Who wouldn't prefer the beaches and sunshine. We lived in Loan because my father was stationed at the US Air Force base there. We didn't live in base housing. Lived in what they called "the economy" in a beautiful old 3 story brick house with a big basement. I thought it was a beautiful little town and I had many playmates who spoke no English. But, it is amazing how fast a child can learn from other children how to speak their language. Good memories. I had a very happy young childhood. =)
@veekay Thank you, Vicki! Really appreciate the view and your kind comments. =)
@loragill Where are you, Lora? I don't recall if it says on your profile. Would be nice to arrange that one day. I'd love to sit down and have a cup of coffee with you! Thank you very much for your comments that the view! Most appreciated!
@ronphotos365 Now that I did not know, Ron! I can't have my garden being destroyed. The damn squirrels do enough destruction around here. I sure don't need any more. How does one evict them if they have to? I'd like to see those photos, too! I'm not squeamish about nature and I'm not afraid to get rid of trouble makers either!
@sgoodin1 LOL! Sara, I thought "moles" ate grubs. I didn't read that these critters ate grub worms. But I guess you can't believe anything you read on the web. Ron just informed me that these critters will destroy a garden and I can't have that! I will have to evict them or the other alternative when I get ready to plant the veggie garden for sure! Thank you for your comments and the view! Always appreciated!
What a little cutie! I bet they'd like a little cattle corn to feed all dem dang bebees! You got good eyes, girl! I bet you must have a herd under your nose, lol
Very cute and you're right...much better than a snake! May be hard to give him his walking papers since he is so quick to hide. Good luck with that! Great capture!
I love reading all the comments! What a cute little guy. I would take this over a snake any day. I never thought I would know so much about a field mouse! Thanks for sharing and great shot.
@myautofocuslife Thank you, Livia! He was still long enough for me to get one halfway decent pic. Wish I could've gotten closer though. Appreciate your comments!
@mhphoto Thank you, Mike! It was still long enough for me to get one halfway decent pic. Wish I could've gotten closer. Appreciate your comments!
@cimes1 LOL! Carole, you are too sweet! Thank you!
@heidievans73 Yep, vermin and varmints! If they do damage, don't want them around! I wish the squirrels would leave but, they'll destroy stuff all summer! Thank you for the comments, Heidi! Most appreciated!
awe!!! such a sweet looking lil thing!!! what a great find and i am glad you were able to capture this!!! WOWSA, could you imagine having that many babies tho!! that is insane! lol. Maybe that is why they dont live very long...they put their bodies through all those pregnancies!!! thanks for sharing :D
This photo is a rollercoaster of emotion - impressed at the pic - (capturing such a small animal very well camoflagued is no mean feat), interested in the facts, jealous that you have such a cute critter, disappointed that they turn out to be pests, then shocked at the amount of babies. Time for a coffee! LOL!
Well, I noticed a lot of people called him 'cute'! I wouldn't be of that same mind. ;) However, you must have been super fast to get such a clear and detailed shot of the little critter! Great job!
@emmac ROFLOL! Emma, I love your comments! Too funny! Thank you for the laugh! Thank you for taking the time to view and comment on my pic! LOL! You are awesome!!!
@tryeveryday Michelle, I am far from fast! It was still long enough for me to get one pic. The rest of the time, it moved. Thank you for your comments and the view! Really appreciated!
@vskolnik Aww! Thank you, Vee! Apprecate your kind comments!
@darsphotos That's okay, Darlene! Don't worry about it. You came, you viewed and commented. =) Thank you!
@karenann ROFLOL! "Standing on your chair!" Too funny, Karen Ann! It's the other variety that will do that to me and snakes are worse! Your comments are very kind and thoughtful, gal! As always, much appreciated. Thank you!
@myhrhelper Aww! Thank you, Kathy! Appreciate your comments!
@cimes1 Thank you so much, Carole! Grateful for your comments and the view.
@kerristephens Thank you, Kerri! =)
We call them "mulot" in french, and I am not totally ok with the point 6 :) I've found one in my living room and I've tried half an hour to make her understand she will be better OUTSIDE than inside.....she was hiding and running everywhere, and it is so tiny, and the color is the same than my wooden floor....but I've won, she finally ran away !
Hope you're feeling ok !
@twinsplusone LOL! It is, Sharon! Thank you for your comments! I do appreciate your time to view and comment on my pics.
Feel free to speak to me in French !
I've lived close to Loan, in Compiegne, very nice area, but I'm from the south of France...with the mediterranean sea and the sun!
@loragill Where are you, Lora? I don't recall if it says on your profile. Would be nice to arrange that one day. I'd love to sit down and have a cup of coffee with you! Thank you very much for your comments that the view! Most appreciated!
@markbuehl Wow! Thank you, Mark! Appreciate the fav and most of all the time you took to view and comment on my pic.
@purdey Thank you, Sharon! Appreciate your comments, as always!
@wannabe LOL! Much better! Thank you for the comments, Catherine! Always appreciated!
@kdei LOL! He has to be, Kim! Couldn't get closer if I wanted to. Thank you for your comments!
@cmc1200 LOL! Sometimes, too much! Thank you for the comments, Caryn!
@lornavale LOL! Appreciate your comments, Barb! Than you!
@orangecrush Thank you very much, Jerry!
@myautofocuslife Thank you, Livia! He was still long enough for me to get one halfway decent pic. Wish I could've gotten closer though. Appreciate your comments!
@peterdegraaff Thank you very much, Peter! Appreciate your comments!
@corymbia Thank you, Amanda!
@sangwann Appreciate your comments, Dione! Thank you!
@camisze Appreciate your comments, Cathy! Thank you!
@mantha LOL! I was up on the deck so not too fearful! Thank you for your comments! Appreciate it very much!
@aleksandra Thank you very much, ma'am!
@cimes1 LOL! Carole, you are too sweet! Thank you!
@heidievans73 Yep, vermin and varmints! If they do damage, don't want them around! I wish the squirrels would leave but, they'll destroy stuff all summer! Thank you for the comments, Heidi! Most appreciated!
@aslessknownsu Thank you, Susan!
@windridge Thank you very much, Susan! Appreciate your comments!
@ataylor It is a bit creepy, Anne. Thank you for your comments!
@paulineb Thank you, Pauline! Really appreciate your kind comments!
@pictureitbig I'm sorry. I do appreciate your time to scroll to the bottom and leave your comments very much! Thank you!
@cimes1 Good deal, Carole! Glad it worked out for you!
@amandalomonaco LOL! Probably so! Appreciate your comments, Amanda! Thank you!
@princesicita Aww! Thank you, Princess! =)
@simonesta Simonetta, thank you for your lovely comments! I hope you're well and doing fine!
@cjphoto LOL! Ya think that's what it thought? Ha ha! Thank you, Chris! Appreciate your comments very much!
@punkhorn Thank you, Jack! It is pretty nice when that happens!