- Lifespan
- 12–18 months in the wild, occasionally up to 2 years
- Size & Weight
- 7.5–9.5 cm body length, 7–10 cm tail; 17–30 g
- Habitat
- Woodland, hedgerows, scrubland, and grassland with dense ground vegetation and leaf litter.
- UK Distribution
- Found throughout mainland Britain and Wales, absent from Ireland and most offshore islands; resident year-round.
- Diet
- Seeds, berries, nuts, fungi, insects, and vegetation; omnivorous with seasonal variation.
- Predators
- Owls (especially Tawny Owls), weasels, stoats, foxes, and larger birds of prey.
- Mating Season
- April to October, with peaks in spring and autumn
- Breeding
- 2–4 litters per year, typically 3–6 young per litter; gestation period 17–19 days; young weaned at 3–4 weeks.
- Behaviour
- Primarily nocturnal and solitary, though occasionally seen during day. Constructs burrows and utilises surface runways through vegetation. Highly active and hypermetabolic, requiring frequent feeding.