Europe’s smallest rodent was spotted in the wild by Yorkshireman Tony Nellis, 26, who said he doubts he’ll ever be able to replicate these five stunning shots ever again
A harvest mouse looks like it’s using wheat as stilts.
The cutie, which weighs the same as a 2p coin, was pictured by Tony Nellis, 26, in York. Pictures show the light-brown rodent balancing between the stems while staring directly at the camera.
Another shot shows the hungry mouse scurrying up a kernel of wheat as it searches for food. Tony, 26, said: “The wheat was there for the harvest mouse to eat. It decided to climb the wheat and then perch in the middle. The harvest mouse is the only British mouse that has a prehensile tail. It can use it as a fifth limb and help it secure himself in place.
“It was a photo workshop but the mouse naturally climbed into that position, it’s not like we’ve superglued his feet. The mouse has its tail wrapped around the wheat, its legs are gripping onto it.
“It looks like it’s eating a bit of wheat. It’s my favourite picture that I’ve taken to date, I love it.
“It’s such a good photo, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to replicate it. Out of 8,000 shots I would say there’s five that I was really happy with.
“They are very near the red list now as the numbers are dropping. I have a mate who breeds them and releases them into the wild.”
Harvest mice are the smallest European rodent and typically eat seeds, insects and fruit.
They are found in tall grass such as cereal crops and hedgerows and have evolved to have broad feet to make it easier to climb.
The harvest mouse is the only British mouse that has a prehensile tail, using it as an extra limb when climbing.
Earlier this year, scientists claimed that mice were able to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on their drugged-up rodent pal.
In an experiment published in the journal Science, boffins placed one mouse under anaesthesia which rendered it temporarily unconscious.
After seeing their furry friend completely out of it, a group of hero mice raced to its aid and started the CPR treatment.
Researchers from the University of Southern California said the “clearance of foreign objects from the mouth, improved airway opening, and hastened recovery suggested reviving-like efforts”.
The study added: “Assisting unresponsive group members may be an innate behaviour widely present among social animals.”
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