Five nests give Devon’s young mouse breeders a reason to keep going

Five small nests gave Eva and Emily a reason to keep going. After raising harvest mice at home and releasing them at a Devon nature reserve, the teenagers found signs that the animals were breeding in the wild.

Their project account describes how ecologists checked the site and volunteers improved the habitat before release. The girls’ first nest survey found five nests — an encouraging result after years of caring for the mice.

Now Wild Pets is inviting 20 Devon children aged eight to 13 to take part. Its published plan includes training with a parent, equipment and guidance from Derek Gow’s Species Recovery Centre, followed by a planned release in September 2027.

That next release remains a goal. Nest records show presence, but the Devon Harvest Mouse Project cautions that they cannot establish population size.

The approach gives children a practical role in conservation, with expert help behind them. For Eva and Emily, those first nests already show that care begun at home can continue beyond the tank.

Sources

• The Guardian — new Wild Pets reporting
• Wild Pets — the founders’ account and first nest survey
• Wild Pets — training and release timetable
• Devon Harvest Mouse Project — what nest surveys can establish