Rodents

Mouse over links for pictures; click for detail page.

Rodents form the largest order of mammals, with about 1,500 species occurring throughout the world. They are characterised by a single pair of incisors in both jaws that grow continuously throughout their lifetime. Twelve species occur in Essex of which the most widespread is the grey squirrel, which was introduced from America in the 19th century. It had driven out its close cousin the red squirrel completely but these have been reintroduced to Mersea Island.

The group includes Britain's fastest declining mammal, the water vole, which is suffering from loss of habitat and predation by american mink. Voles are vegetarian and the field vole is probably the most widespread of all the rodents.

As well as the voles the group also includes the mice. Both the wood mouse and the similar yellow-necked mouse are widespread.

Once widespread across farmland, the harvest mouse is a victim of changing agricultural practice, and is now confined largely to rough grassland, roadside verges, reedbeds and ditches.

The dormouse is another once-common species that has declined drastically in recent decades. Once found in every wood and many copses and hedgerows, now it is confined to just a few large woods or groups of woods that are managed for wildlife.

The beaver is our largest rodent. Once extinct, it has recently been reintroduced, and is now well established at Spains Hall Estate near Finchingfield. Other introductions can be expected, as the beaver is now recognised for its contribution to flood management and wetland habitat restoration.