Wildlife

Wild Wood Mouse Garden Welfare

Wood mice are common but declining garden wildlife whose welfare is threatened by domestic cat predation, rodenticide use and garden tidiness reducing habitat complexity.

Key Facts

Wood mice are found in virtually all UK habitats from woodland to suburban gardens
They cache seeds extensively in autumn and rely on these stores through winter
Domestic cats are significant predators of wood mice in garden habitats
Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides cause internal haemorrhage in wood mice
Garden tidiness removing log piles, leaf litter and rough grass reduces wood mouse habitat

Welfare Considerations

Wood mouse welfare benefits from gardens that provide habitat complexity and freedom from rodenticide risk. Simple garden management changes create meaningful welfare improvements for these small mammals.

What You Can Do

Leave areas of rough grass, log piles and leaf litter as wood mouse habitat
Never use anticoagulant rodenticides in gardens where small mammals are present
Keep cats indoors or supervised at night when wood mouse activity peaks