Micromys minutus

Harvest mouse

It is a common species in the Friuli lowland. It lives on the edge of the marshes and peat bogs, in the high and dense vegetation, but is also present in cultivated fields.
It isthe smallest rodent of Europe. Its body is about 7 cm and its tail, slightly prehensile, is about 6 cm. It is an excellent climber of nocturnal habits and feeds mainly on seeds but also to insects.
Its nest is very similar to the dormouse and it is build about half a meter above the ground twisting the leaves of grasses. The winter nest is built instead on the ground or even underground.
Is inserted into the Red List of animals in Italy as a vulnerable species due to the reduction of wetlands.