The Rodent Mammals of Britain
Discover the Rodents of Great Britain, with curated guides, articles and useful websites.
Squirrel, Mouse, Beaver, Vole, Rat. (Rodentia).
Articles
Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
Articles
The red squirrel or Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
(Wikipedia)
Saving Species: The Red Squirrel
(Wildlife Trusts)
Red squirrel facts
(Woodland Trust)
Top places to spot red squirrels
(National Trust)
Can pine martens control grey squirrels?
(Discover Wildlife)
Red squirrel conservation
(RSPB)
Red Squirrels – interesting facts and colouring download
(GetOutWithTheKids)
Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
(Forestry & Land Scotland)
Photo gallery: the red squirrel in its element
(Countryfile)
How do squirrels find their nuts?
(Discover Wildlife)
How and where to see red squirrels
(Discover Wildlife)
Useful Websites
Red Squirrel Survival Trust
Charity Established To Ensure The Conservation And Protection Of The Red Squirrel In The UK.
Red Squirrels United
The first UK wide network working together to secure the future of our red squirrels.
Everything you need to know about red squirrels
Trees for Life presents comprehensive information about all aspects of the Red Squirrel.
BritishRedSquirrel.org
British Red Squirrel is a forum for all those interested in red squirrel conservation…
Red Squirrel – nature.scot
The red squirrel was one of the first species identified as needing urgent action…
Red Squirrels Northern England
A red squirrel conservation partnership working right across northern England.
Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels
Working with local communities to ensure red squirrels will always be a part of Scotland’s special native wildlife.
Red Squirrel Forum for South Scotland
Promotes the long-term conservation of red squirrel populations in South Scotland through volunteer action.
Mid Wales Red Squirrel Partnership
Aims to expand and protect red squirrels in mid Wales by working with organisations and communities.
Red Squirrel – Species – The Mammal Society
Information, identification, distribution, downloadable factsheets…
More pages...
Red Squirrel pages at: The Woodland Trust, Wildlife Trusts, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Peoples Trust for Endangered Species.
Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Articles
In defence of the grey squirrel, Britain’s most unpopular invader
(TheConversation)
Red & Grey Squirrels – important facts you must know
(FindingNature)
Don’t blame grey squirrels: their British invasion had much more to do with us
(Imperial College London)
Grey Squirrels are as native to the UK as you are. Professor Acorn dispels the myths
(Grey-Squirrel)
The eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
(Wikipedia)
Understand grey squirrels
(Discover Wildlife)
Curious Questions: Why can’t red and grey squirrels live together?
(Country Life)
Useful Websites
Grey Squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis – NNSS
The Non Native Species Secretariat has information on the grey squirrel from it’s habitat to sound recordings.
When to help a squirrel
Help Wildlife provides details of when to help a squirrel.
Species – Grey Squirrel– Sciurus carolinensis
The Mammal Society details of the grey squirrel with downloadable factsheet.
Squirrel (Grey) – YPTE
The Young People’s Trust for the Environment presents sections including Overview, Daily Life, Winter, Breeding and Squirrels & Humans.
Squirrels.info – squirrel welfare in the UK
Our aim is to build up a network, so that we can help to find homes for squirrels in distress all over the UK.
More pages...
Grey Squirrel pages at: Wildlife World, Woodland Trust, Wildlife Trusts.
Hazel (Common) dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius)
Articles
The hazel dormouse or common dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius)
(Wikipedia)
11 fascinating facts about the hazel dormouse
(Country Life)
Why are Hazel Dormice Endangered?
(Acer Ecology)
Hazel Dormouse Conservation
(Wildlife Science)
Wildlife Profiles: Hazel Dormouse (.pdf)
(BCN Wildlife Trust)
Hazel dormouse: nests, identification and protection
(Woodland Trust)
Useful Websites
Animalia.bio – Hazel Dormouse
Lifespan, distribution and habitat map, lifestyle and social behavior, mating habits, diet and nutrition, population size and status.
Muscardinus avellanarius (hazel dormouse)
Read about Muscardinus avellanarius (hazel dormouse) on the Animal Diversity Web.
Species – Hazel Dormouse – The Mammal Society
Information including identification and a downloadable factsheet.
The Mammal Next Door – Hazel Dormouse
Online magazine about British mammals for kids.
Hazel (or Common) dormouse – PTES
People’s Trust for Endangered Species has information and links to it’s campaigns to help save the species.
More pages...
Hazel/Common Dormouse pages at: Woodland Trust, Wildlife Trusts.
Edible dormouse (Glis glis)
Articles
The edible dormouse or fat dormouse (Glis glis)
(Wikipedia)
Invasive non-native species – Edible dormouse
(Inside Ecology)
Useful Websites
Edible Dormouse on Animalia.bio Lifespan, distribution and habitat map, lifestyle and social behavior, mating habits, diet and nutrition, population size and status.
Edible Dormouse – ADW
Glis glis (fat dormouse) on the Animal Diversity Web.
More pages...
Edible Dormouse pages at: The Mammal Society.
Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus)
Articles
Eurasian harvest mouse
(Wikipedia)
The harvest mouse
(Saga)
An Unusual Home for a Harvest Mouse
(RSPB)
In search of the Harvest Mouse
(Back From The Brink)
The secret life of harvest mice as never seen before
(Mail Online)
Useful Websites
Harvest Mouse – The Mammal Society
Information and identification, downloadable factsheet.
Mouse (Harvest) – YPTE
The harvest mouse is the smallest rodent in Britain and weighs less than a 2 pence coin!…
Eurasian Harvest Mouse
Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio.
More pages...
Harvest Mouse pages at: Wildlife Trusts, Wildwood Group, Peoples Trust for Endangered Species.
Wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus)
Aka long-tailed field mouse
Articles
The wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus)
(Wikipedia)
7 things you didn’t know about the wood mouse
(Discover Wildlife)
An ode to the Wood Mouse
(BBC Wildlife Trust)
Useful Websites
Wood Mouse – Woodland Trust
Appearance & Behaviour, Where to find and how to spot.
Wood Mouse – Animalia.bio
Lifespan, distribution and habitat map, lifestyle and social behavior, mating habits, diet and nutrition, population size and status.
Apodemus sylvaticus (long-tailed field mouse)
Read about Apodemus sylvaticus (long-tailed field mouse) on the Animal Diversity Web.
Wood Mouse – The Mammal Society
Plenty of information, identification tips as well as a downloadable factsheet.
Wood Mouse – YPTE
Overview, Habits, Wood Mouse & Humans, at The Young People’s Trust For the Environment.
More pages...
Wood Mouse pages at: Peoples Trust for Endangered Species, Natural History Society of Northumbria, Countryside Info, Wildlife Trusts.
House mouse (Mus musculus)
Articles
The house mouse (Mus musculus)
(Wikipedia)
House mouse or field mouse? A quick guide to types of mice, voles and shrews in the UK
(Woodland Trust)
The House Mouse – David Chapman
(Saga)
The Curious Case of the St Kilda House Mouse
(Wildlife Articles)
Useful Websites
House mouse – The Mammal Society
An overview of the house mouse; appearance, habitat, diet, ecology…
More pages...
House Mouse pages at: The Wildlife Trusts.
Yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis)
Articles
Useful Websites
Yellow Necked Mouse – The Mammal Society
Species information, identification, downloadable factsheet.
Yellow-necked Mouse – Woodland Trust
Learn about what they eat, how they breed and lots more.
Yellow-Necked Mouse – Animalia.bio
Lifespan, distribution and habitat map, lifestyle and social behavior, mating habits, diet and nutrition, population size and status.
Bank vole (Myodes glareolus)
Articles
The bank vole (Myodes glareolus)
(Wikipedia)
Vexing Voles; ID Made Easy!
(Wildlife Articles)
How to spot bank voles in your garden
(Saga)
The voles of Britain
(LandLove)
Useful Websites
Bank Vole – The Mammal Society
Habitat, appearance, lifespan, distribution, diet and identification.
Bank Vole (Myodes glareolus) – Woodland Trust
Pictures, identification information, behaviour, signs and spotting tips.
Bank Vole – Animalia.bio
Lifespan, distribution and habitat map, lifestyle and social behavior, mating habits, diet and nutrition, population size and status.
Field vole (Microtus agrestis)
aka short-tailed vole
Articles
The perils of being a short-tailed vole
(BBC – Earth)
The field vole or short-tailed vole (Microtus agrestis)
(Wikipedia)
Barn Owl habitat: Vole holes and other signs of Field Voles
(Barn Owl Trust)
The identification of field and bank voles
(Total Ecology)
Useful Websites
Field Vole – Woodland Trust
Find out how they breed, what they eat and where to spot them and look for signs.
Field Vole – The Mammal Society
Information online and as a downloadable factsheet.
Field vole – The Wildlife Trusts
The field vole is one of the UK’s most common mammals…
Field Vole – Animalia.bio
Lifespan, distribution and habitat map, lifestyle and social behavior, mating habits, diet and nutrition, population size and status.
Vole (Field) – YPTE
Factsheet at the Young People’s Trust For the Environment.
Common vole (Microtus arvalis)
Subspecies: Orkney Vole
Articles
The common vole (Microtus arvalis)
(Wikipedia)
The Orkney vole – Europe’s most mysterious migrant
(The Guardian)
Useful Websites
The Common Vole – ADW
Lots of details at the Animal Diversity Web.
Common vole – The Mammal Society
Information about the common vole.
Water vole (Arvicola amphibius)
Articles
The European water vole
(Wikipedia)
Water vole guide: how to identify, where to see and top facts
(Countryfile)
12 fascinating facts you might not know about water voles
(Discover Wildlife)
Water voles colonised Britain in two waves
(Natural History Museum)
Rescuing Ratty
(Living Levels)
Water voles make a welcome return to Exmoor
(National Trust)
Useful Websites
Water Vole – Wildlife Trusts
Learn about the water vole and also view a quick video guide.
Water Vole – The Mammal Society
Information and a couple of downloadable factsheets.
Vole (Water) – YPTE
Lots of useful info at the Young People’s Trust For the Environment.
Water vole – Wildlife Online
Summary of Water vole natural history.
Water voles – Freshwater Habitats Trust
Includes ideas for helping water voles and a species dossier pdf.
Water Vole (Arvicola Amphibius)
A-Z Animals presents details of the water vole and its life.
Water voles – Scottish Natural Heritage
Once common on Scottish riverbanks, the water vole is now one of our most threatened native mammals…
Water vole – People’s Trust for Endangered Species
General info as well as details of monitoring scheme, conservation status…
Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber)
Articles
The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) or European beaver
(Wikipedia)
UK’s first wild beaver colony in 400 years has been a success
(Country Living)
Beavers cut flooding and pollution and boost wildlife populations
(The Guardian)
Beaver Reintroduction in the UK
(RSPB)
England’s first wild beaver colony in centuries is ‘helping communities and climate’
(The Independent)
Beaver trial at Cropton Forest
(Forestry England)
Guide to Britain’s beavers
(Countryfile)
UK beavers – how we helped bring them back
(Friends of the Earth)
Useful Websites
Beaver Trust
Works with beaver believers like farmers, local communities and conservationists to bring back British wildlife now.
Beaver (Castor fiber) – Woodland Trust
Find out all about where it lives, what it eats, how it breeds and identification tips.
Scottish Beaver Trial
Partnership project between the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. Website includes learning zone, fun facts and more…
Welsh Beaver Project
Investigating the feasibility of bringing wild beavers (Castor fiber) back to Wales. This work is being led by the Wildlife Trusts in Wales.
Scottish Wild Beaver Group
We aim to promote the study, conservation and protection of wild Eurasian beavers and their natural habitats in Scotland. We want to teach children the benefits of the beaver.
BACE, Beavers in England
Independent advice and information,about the reintroduction of beavers into England, the Beaver Advisory Committee for England.
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Bringing Back the Beaver: The Story of One Man's Quest to Rewild Britain's Waterways
Filled with humour and scientific insight, Bringing Back the Beaver tells the story of one man’s quest to restore the ecosystem of British waterways with the help of nature’s most skilled engineers.
Back to Nature: How to Love Life - and Save It
One thing has become clear this year - we need nature more than ever. And it needs us too. From our balconies and gardens to our woodlands, national parks and beyond, Back to Nature captures the essence of how we feel about the wildlife outside our windows. Through personal stories, conservation breakthroughs and scientific discoveries, it explores the wonder and the solace of nature, and the ways in which we can connect with it - and protect it.