Eurasian Harvest Mouse

Housed in the small mammal building of the Philadelphia Zoo is one of the zoo’s tiniest animals, the Eurasian Harvest Mouse. Weighing only one fourth of an ounce and approximately six inches long, Eurasian Harvest Mice arrived to the Philadelphia Zoo in 2011 with the vast majority of the colony coming from the Museum de Besancon in France. Due to a very successful breeding program that carried over from France to America, the Philadelphia Zoo has been able to sustain their exhibit over the years, consequently making the Eurasian Harvest Mouse visitor favorite in the Small Mammal House. “I wish I could keep it has a pet. It’s so cute and tiny!” says Mia, a second grade zoo-goer and self-described enthusiast of all animals cute and little.

As their name suggests, Eurasian Harvest Mice are indigenous to Europe and Eastern Asia where they live in habitats of fields and grasslands. Their diet of mostly grains and seeds classify them as granivorous, while those mice living at the Philadelphia Zoo are given a grain biscuit daily as well as fruit to enhance dietary diversity. Their exceptionally developed senses allow them to detect even the slightest noises, smells, or movements to escape from potential predators such as weasels, foxes, and owls, and better survive in the wild. They tend to be social and gather in groups, but these social interactions usually end quickly as male mice often begin to fight and ruin the fun. While the detriments of keeping animals in captivity is largely debated, the Zoo points out that the typical wild Eurasian Harvest Mouse lives for about 18 months while those in captivity have previously lived up to 5 years.

The Philadelphia Zoo recommends that those wishing to see the Eurasian Harvest Mouse visit the Small Mammal House in the afternoon as this is the time that they are most active. From now until October 31st, the Philadelphia Zoo will be open from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. for visitors to enjoy the Eurasian Harvest Mouse as well as the many other animals that the zoo has to offer.