Even though the lifespan of a harvest mouse is just 18 months, its days are filled with adventures. Being Europe's smallest rodent, it is the only British mammal to have a prehensile tail, giving it the ability to grasp plant stems as it moves through long vegetation. And probably no photographer has captured these little acrobats as well as Dean Mason from Dorset, United Kingdom.
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The 53-year-old has been a photographer from the age of 17. "I have been a dedicated to wildlife photography for the past 20 years and enjoyed every single second [of it]," he told Bored Panda. "Wild animals fascinate me for many reasons: It's always challenging and I thrive on a challenge. I love the peace and tranquillity of nature and the outdoors, and I have always suffered from anxiety, so having spent 1000s of hours by myself with nature and my camera equipment, I've always found it to be therapeutic and calming."
"I am the owner of Windows on Wildlife hides and harvest mice photographic workshops in Dorset, UK," Mr. Mason said. "I breed captive-bred harvest mice and am fully licensed under the new DEFRA animal welfare legislation to do so. We offer other wildlife photographers the opportunity to photograph our harvest mice under controlled conditions, however, our mice are free to do as they please – they are never handled so never get stressed."
"I am the owner of Windows on Wildlife hides and harvest mice photographic workshops in Dorset, UK," Mr. Mason said. "I breed captive-bred harvest mice and am fully licensed under the new DEFRA animal welfare legislation to do so. We offer other wildlife photographers the opportunity to photograph our harvest mice under controlled conditions, however, our mice are free to do as they please – they are never handled so never get stressed."
"The tiny mice are ... natural climbers so we give them various plants, stems, flowers for them to climb upon which offers opportunities for photographic images." Also, captive-bred harvest mice are used by many wildlife centers for displaying to the public due to their incredibly small size which makes spotting them in the wild almost impossible.
"Photographing harvest mice is fascinating. They can be incredibly quick and offer a challenge to photograph," Mr. Mason continued. "They are incredibly acrobatic and fun to watch, always giving the aww factor! They are never shy to pose for the camera and this is why hundreds of photographers take the opportunity to visit us on our photography workshops in Dorset."
Looks like this little guys getting drunk on rotten apple. He looks hung over
I just got the "Mission Impossible" Theme running through my head when I saw this XD.
I am hidden. I can not see you, you can not see me, therefore, I am hidden!
Jackie paused, mid jump. He saw Annalise was trying to jump to him, and he didn’t want to mess that up! For he loved Annalise like no other... if only she knew it...
🎶 Would you like to chew on a star, carry moonbeams home in a jar, or be better off than you are, or would you rather be the cutest thing anyone’s ever seen! 🎶
They live only 6 months? That's ok... I didn't need my heart anyway... Pretty babies
They are VERY tiny, aren't they? It's no wonder they're virtually invisible in the wild. The way they climb reminds me of the chipmunks that lived in my in-laws' yard. They would climb the ornamental grasses to get at the seed heads, but they were playing at the same time. Chipmunks are bigger than these guys, so as they climbed the stalks, the stalks bent. By the time the 'munks got close enough to snip off the seed heads, they were almost on the ground. They'd snip the head, the grass would snap back, and the 'munks would fling through the air and land about six feet away. They would do this all afternoon. It was like their own personal roller coaster and snack bar rolled into one.
AAAAAAAAA~ SOOOOOO FREAKING CUUUUTE! Yeah, I like them. This photographer also did a series (Purrhaps I saw it Here?) with These Adorable Tiniest Of Purrecious Kreatures On Beautiful Tulips~ IT was Fantastic, as well! I could easily have looked at another hundred pictures like these.😊
These are abordable (the photography is lovely to boot. I love peaking into their tiny worlds. I’m probably going to date myself, but some of the images make me thing of the British children’s book series “Brambly Hedge”
Who says mice are ugly and nasty? *fondly remembers my late mice* yes, mice are absolutely adorable.
Spectacular photography. These little mice are so darned cute! I never realized how small they are.
There's a meme going around for years and years of two mice hanging by tails. I always assumed it was photoshopped. Maybe it wasn't? Some kind of "Hang in there" comment on it.
Another winner for us nature and animal lovers, all photos are fabulous, thanks !!!
They are so beautiful, one of the most wonderful creatures in the world. Beautiful little eyes.
charming. I have one in my woodpile. I shall look at him with new eyes
Wow. It took me a few minutes to realize it, but these critters are very small.
I love them, just wish more were in their natural habitats than in the studio.
Nope, 'cause it's a captive population. Reminds me of "Mouseville" from The Green Mile.
Load More Replies...They live only 6 months? That's ok... I didn't need my heart anyway... Pretty babies
They are VERY tiny, aren't they? It's no wonder they're virtually invisible in the wild. The way they climb reminds me of the chipmunks that lived in my in-laws' yard. They would climb the ornamental grasses to get at the seed heads, but they were playing at the same time. Chipmunks are bigger than these guys, so as they climbed the stalks, the stalks bent. By the time the 'munks got close enough to snip off the seed heads, they were almost on the ground. They'd snip the head, the grass would snap back, and the 'munks would fling through the air and land about six feet away. They would do this all afternoon. It was like their own personal roller coaster and snack bar rolled into one.
AAAAAAAAA~ SOOOOOO FREAKING CUUUUTE! Yeah, I like them. This photographer also did a series (Purrhaps I saw it Here?) with These Adorable Tiniest Of Purrecious Kreatures On Beautiful Tulips~ IT was Fantastic, as well! I could easily have looked at another hundred pictures like these.😊
These are abordable (the photography is lovely to boot. I love peaking into their tiny worlds. I’m probably going to date myself, but some of the images make me thing of the British children’s book series “Brambly Hedge”
Who says mice are ugly and nasty? *fondly remembers my late mice* yes, mice are absolutely adorable.
Spectacular photography. These little mice are so darned cute! I never realized how small they are.
There's a meme going around for years and years of two mice hanging by tails. I always assumed it was photoshopped. Maybe it wasn't? Some kind of "Hang in there" comment on it.
Another winner for us nature and animal lovers, all photos are fabulous, thanks !!!
They are so beautiful, one of the most wonderful creatures in the world. Beautiful little eyes.
charming. I have one in my woodpile. I shall look at him with new eyes
Wow. It took me a few minutes to realize it, but these critters are very small.
I love them, just wish more were in their natural habitats than in the studio.
Nope, 'cause it's a captive population. Reminds me of "Mouseville" from The Green Mile.
Load More Replies...