Small mammals for wildlife gardens

Hedgehogs eat many of the creatures we consider to be pests, such as slugs.

Which small mammals are common in gardens?

he wonderful thing about small mammals is that you do not have to lure them in. If you lower your defences and hold back on your prejudices, they will come in uninvited. There is no need, either, to worry about the dangers of, for example, plague rats or vast populations of rabbits, because if you get the balance right in your garden the various wildlife groups will regulate each other.

Mus musculus (House Mouse)

Size – 7.5–10 cm (3–4 in) from nose to tail.
Appearance – Grey-brown with lighter grey-brown tones on the underparts.
Habitat – Often seen in hedges and bushes in parks, allotments and
gardens.
Food – Insects, larvae, berries, seeds and discarded human food – in fact, everything that is available.
Home – In houses, sheds, and just about anywhere where there is a dry hole.
Comments – You might not like mice, but there are plenty of wild animals that do. Keep them out of your house by cleaning up food and sealing up rubbish containers (block up any holes), and then make sure your garden invites in mice-eating animals such as hedgehogs, badgers, weasels, birds of prey and snakes. In case you are thinking of opening your home to house mice, just remember that a healthy female will give birth to 40–60 young in a good year!

Oryctolagus cuniculus (Rabbit)

Size – 40–48 cm (16–19 in) long.
Appearance – Brown-grey-yellow with white undersides to the belly, chest, legs and tail.
Habitat – Farmland, heathland, commons, wasteland and gardens.
Food – Grasses, garden plants and crops.
Home – Lives underground in burrows and holes, sometimes in extensive burrow systems or warrens.
Comments – Breeds from late winter through to summer. Rabbits can be a bit of a pest, but their presence will attract birds of prey and larger mammals such as foxes. Rabbits can exhibit huge fluctuations in population – one day there may be hundreds, the next they contract myxomatosis (a viral disease) and their numbers are decimated.

Rattus norvegicus (Brown Rat)

Size – 20–23 cm (8–9 in) long, not counting a tail half as long as the body.
Appearance – Grey-brown-red coat with white underparts.
Habitat – Farms, gardens, parks and houses.
Food – Roots, shoots, insects, farm and garden produce, and discarded human food – everything that is available.
Home – Anywhere where it can dig, burrow or hide, in holes, houses, sheds and barns.
Comments – Breeds throughout the year but especially in spring and autumn. While rats are frequently blamed for spreading disease and despoiling food and crops, current research suggests that a healthy rat living in a wildlife garden is no worse than a squirrel. If you really do not like rats, then you must limit your food handouts – do not leave uncovered food either for you or your pets in and around the home. Make sure they cannot get into your home, garage, shed or cellar, and invite in creatures like owls and snakes that feed on rats. (Be aware that if you poison rats you will in effect
also be killing the creatures that feed on them.) Adult eating kitchen scraps

Sciurus vulgaris (Grey Squirrel)

Size – 23–30 cm (9–12 in) long, not including the tail which is 20–23 cm (8–
9 in) long.
Appearance – Has a grey coat, with white underparts, and a hint of orangebrown on the back, tail and head.
Habitat – Woodland, parks and gardens.
Food – Bark, buds, shoots, seeds, nuts (especially hazelnuts), acorns, berries, fungi, insects and even birds’ eggs and nestlings; will also take supplementary food put out for birds.
Home – Makes a nest or ‘drey’ in the crown of a tree.
Comments – Grey squirrels are very common, and extremely agile. If you do not want them to eat your bird food, there are many ‘squirrel-proof’ feeders on the market. They are very ingenious when it comes to food, but that is part of their charm.

Talpa europaea (Mole)

Size – 13–20 cm (5–8 in) long.
Appearance – Has a barrel-shaped body with velvety, silvery grey-brownblack hair, paddle-shaped legs and a long, pink-ended snout.
Habitat – Gardens, parks and woodland.
Food – Worms, slugs, insects and larvae.
Home – Elaborate, many-chambered burrows.
Comments – If you are a lawn-lover, then you probably do not like moles. The truth is that, while they do make a mess, they are incredibly beautiful and well-adapted creatures. If you are lucky enough to have moles, focus on the wonderful way that they loosen and aerate the soil, and eat all manner of small creatures.

Hdgehogs and badgers

Do these animals pose any risks?

he hedgehog is a shy, harmless creature that uses its prickles as a defence mechanism, rolling up into a ball when danger looms. The spines are sharp, so you should avoid handling them. Badgers are beautiful animals but they have been associated with spreading the cattle disease bovine tuberculosis or TB, they can be aggressive, and they need a lot of space. If you already have badgers in your garden, leave them alone and enjoy them from a distance.

Erinaceus europaea (Hedgehog)

Size – 25–30 cm (10–12 in) long.
Appearance – Grey-brown with white-brown undersides; back covered in spines.
Habitat – Farmland, the bottom of hedges, woodland, wasteland and
gardens.
Food – Slugs, worms, snails, frogs, mice – just about anything that is small and slow enough to be caught.
Home – Holes and little dry places under hedges and buildings.
Comments – The name comes from the Old English ‘hegge hoge’, meaning ‘hedge pig’. In times of stress, a hedgehog is able to roll into a tight ball, so that the spines all point outwards. The main predators or dangers are humans (especially their cars), dogs, ferrets, rats, weasels, owls and hawks. Hedgehogs are mainly nocturnal, but they can sometimes be seen during the day. They will hibernate if conditions are right. If you really want to get rid of garden pests such as slugs, snails, aphids and insects, hedgehogs are the answer. They are very susceptible to insecticides, however, so if you use these you will in effect be killing hedgehogs.

HEDGEHOG PROTECTION

Hedgehogs are vulnerable creatures and it pays to take steps to ensure their safety in your garden.
• When burning a pile of leaves, always check that the pile is not giving a home to a hedgehog.
• Do not use slug pellets; first they kill the slugs and then the hedgehogs that feed on the slugs.
• Swimming pools can be death traps; hedgehogs fall in and cannot get out.
• Fine plastic netting can be a problem; hedgehogs become entangled and then starve.
• Take care when using a lawnmower or strimmer, as hedgehogs can easily be killed by these machines.

Meles meles (Badger)

Size – 82–90 cm (32–36 in) long. A healthy adult weighs in at 9–14 kg (20– 30 lb), depending on the time of year.
Appearance – Grey-black and white, with distinctive black and white markings on the face.
Habitat – Farmland, heathland, woodland, common land, wasteland and large gardens.
Food – Roots, shoots, fruits, insects, worms, small animals; will also eat kitchen scraps.
Home – Lives in a maze of underground holes, tunnels and chambers called a sett. Research suggests that setts are passed down from one generation to the next.
Comments – Badgers live in family groups of 10–15 adults, and are known to live up to 15 years. Research suggests that there are at least 250,000 badgers in the UK. Badgers are rarely seen in daytime. The problem with TB, badgers and cattle is complicated and confused, with various for-and against groups coming up with contradictory views. Just be aware that not everyone is a badger-lover.
WARNING: An injured or cornered badger is dangerous and could easily injure children or pets. If you have badgers, do not intervene – just observe them from a distance.


It is very unusual to see a badger in daylight. They normally start to emerge from the sett after dusk and are active through the night.

Lizards and snakes
Am I likely to see these reptiles?

To attract lizards and snakes to your garden, all you can do is ensure that the conditions are right. You need a good-sized pond (see pages 18–21) to give a home to the creatures that snakes like to eat – frogs, fish, toads and newts – as well as areas of stones and sand for lizards. In an area where both snakes and lizards are found, the likelihood is that snakes will be more numerous because they will feed on the lizards.

Natrix natrix (Grass Snake)

Size – 0.9–1.2 m (3–4 ft) long.
Appearance – Usually green-grey-olive colour, with black bars running down the sides, and a yellow-white or orange patch around the neck. Black variations also occur.
Habitat – Farmland, heathland, woodland, common land, wasteland and large gardens.
Food – Frogs, toads, fish, newts, lizards and small mammals.
Home – Lives in holes, under logs and rocks, in hedge bottoms – anywhere that is warm, dry and sheltered.
Comments – The female is larger than the male. The white marking around the neck is the reason why in some areas it was traditionally called the ‘common ringed snake’. Grass Snakes hibernate over winter, emerge and mate in spring, and lay eggs in summer. Although when threatened the grass snake sometimes strikes an attacking pose, and may even bite if provoked, it is completely harmless to humans. Opheodrys vernalis (Green Grass Snake, Smooth Green Snake) is a similar species that is native to North America.

FEAR OF SNAKES

Research suggests that if you show the average person in the street a slideshow of creepy and dangerous plants and animals – mushrooms, slimy plants, rats, spiders, frogs, snakes and so on – invariably they will show greater fear when they see the snakes. Research also suggests that evolution has programmed mammals to fear poisonous animals, especially snakes. Some snakes, such as adders (see page 64), are poisonous and should be treated with extreme caution. The truth is, however, that snakes are more scared of us than we are of them and will only bite or attack if provoked, so if you treat the snake with respect it should do the same for you.

A pair of grass snakes basking in the early morning sun

Zootoca vivipara (Common Lizard)

Size – 15–18 cm (6–7 in) long.
Appearance – Dark black-brown with short legs and a yellow-orange underbelly. The male has more brightly coloured underparts, ranging from orange-yellow to red. The female’s underparts are paler, more white-toyellow than orange. Habitat – Sunny, dry, rocky to sandy common land and heathland. Food – Insects, spiders, bugs and other small creatures. Home – Holes and dry places under hedges, rocks, logs and buildings.
Comments – The common lizard has learnt to adapt to its environment – for example, in mountainous regions it lives in damp areas, while in more lowland regions it prefers open, dry conditions. If the lizard is under attack, it can shed its tail to escape, and grow a new one. This species is the only one in its genus that is ‘viviparous’, meaning it produces live young rather than eggs.

Common lizards can be spotted sunning themselves on a rock or stone wall.

WHAT DO LIZARD SEAT?

• Cnemidophorus gularis (Texas Spotted Whiptail; Southern States of the USA) – small insects and other lizards.

• Elgaria multicarinata (Southern Alligator Lizard; coast of North America and Southern California) – most small insects, flies, spiders and crickets.

• Lacerta agilis (Sand Lizard; Europe and Asia) – flies, beetles, locusts and spiders.

• Ophisaurus attenuatus (Slender Glass Lizard; USA) – flies, spiders and just about anything else it can find.

• Podarcis muralis (Wall Lizard; Europe and Mediterranean islands) – most small insects.

• Podarcis taurica (Balkan Wall Lizard; Asia and Europe) – insects, spiders, bugs and almost any small creature it can catch and almost any small creature it can catch.

Other wild animals

Will anything unusual visit my garden?

The wonderful thing about wildlife gardens is that you can never know what is going to pop up next. For example, in the past our garden has been visited by a family of wild boar. If you are lucky, you might catch sight of a deer, an adder or a slow worm or, if your garden backs on to a river, stream or canal, even a mink, a stoat or a water vole. If you are quiet and still – no cracking twigs or leaves underfoot – and just watch, there are many exciting possibilities.

UNUSUAL SPECIES YOU MIGHT SEE

Sus scrofa (Wild Boar)

Size – 1.4–1.5 m (4¾–5 ft) long.
Appearance – Compact with a large head and dense, bristly fur.
Habitat – Woodland, common land and scrubland.
Food – Grass, roots, shoots, foliage and worms.
Comments – The wild boar is an omnivorous mammal found across Europe, Asia and the UK.

Dama dama (Fallow Deer)

Size – 89–96 cm (35–38 in) from ground to shoulder.
Appearance – Reddish orange-brown with white spots on the back and flanks, and cream-white underparts. The male grows broad-bladed antlers annually.
Food – Grass, brambles, foliage.
Habitat – Woodland, parks and open spaces, large country gardens and wooded riverbanks.

Viperus berus (Adder)

Size – 60–96 cm (24–38 in) long.
Appearance – Grey-brown, with grey-white zigzag and dot patterns along the body, and a ‘V’ mark on the back of the head.
Food – Small animals such as mice, voles, lizards and frogs.
Habitat – Woodland, fields, hedgerows, scrubby sand dunes, farmland and country gardens.
Comments – The poisonous bite is painful and can make you very ill, but rarely deadly. Seek prompt medical attention if bitten.

Anguis fragilis (Slow Worm)

Size – 25–50 cm (10–20 in) long.
Appearance – Shiny silver-grey to silver-gold.
Habitat – Common land, sandy scrubland, stony wasteland, and dry, warm, sheltered gardens.
Food – Insects, worms and slugs.
Comments – The slow worm is a legless lizard, not a snake.

Neomys fodiens (Water Shrew)

Size – 7.5–13 cm (3–5 in) long.
Appearance – Black-brown with silver-grey-white underparts.
Food – Worms, slugs, insects and small fish.
Habitat – Rivers, streams, ponds, marshes and damp farmland and gardens.

Mustela nivalis (Weasel)

Size – 25–30 cm (10–12 in) from nose to tail.
Appearance – Reddish nut-brown with creamy brown-white underparts.
Food – Rats, mice, voles – anything it can catch.
Habitat – Woodland, fields, open spaces near towns, and large gardens.

Mustela erminea (Stoat)

Size – 25–35 cm (10–14 in) from nose to tail.
Appearance – Reddish brown with creamy brown-white underparts, and a black tip to the end of the tail.
Food – Rats, mice, voles, rabbits; anything it can catch.
Habitat – Woodland, farmland, fields, rocky scrubland, open spaces in towns, large wild gardens.

Rattus rattus (Black Rat)

Size – 18–23 cm (7–9 in) long plus an 18–23 cm (7–9 in) tail.
Appearance – Black-brown with large, pink ears and a tail that is at least as long as the body.
Food – Most crops but prefers grain.
Habitat – Gardens, buildings and structures near coastal areas.

Lampetra planeri (Brook Lamprey)

Size – 38–60 cm (15–24 in) long.
Appearance – Silver-grey-brown with gill holes along the side of the body, and distinctive, primitive, jawless sucker-mouth.
Food – Fine particles in water.
Habitat – Brooks, streams.

Arvicola terrestris (Water Vole)

Size – 20–30 cm (8–12 in) long from nose to tail, about one-third of the total length being the tail.
Appearance – Dark black-brown with a round, short-nosed face and furcovered ears.
Food – Riverside plants.
Habitat – Lives in and around slow-flowing water, such as ponds, streams, rivers and canals.

Mustela vison (American Mink)

Size – 45–60 cm (18–24 in) from nose to tail.
Appearance – Reddish brown through to pinky-cream and black-brown.
Food – Fish, birds – almost anything it can catch.
Habitat – Streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, wet woodland and gardens that border rivers and canals.
Comments – There are now large wild populations of this mink, descended from ancestors that escaped from fur farms throughout Europe, in many places driving out its cousin Mustela lutreola (European Mink)