35 Adorable Photos Of Harvest Mice Living Their Tiny Lives By Dean Mason
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! 🎶
Sitting on this stalk of some grain, watching the world go by again...🎶
These pics are absolutely gorgeous. Thankyou for sharing. I didn’t even know there was such a thing as harvest mice. They are just sooo cute.
Now this is cute little creatures.. nothing in common with the ugly things living in our basements..
All the pics are exquisite, great photography. Almost want to collect except I have a cat.
Note: this post originally had 49 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.
they are so tiny and adorable
I am in love. Beautiful images and even more beautiful creatures. This is nothing but the celebration of life! You can see pure joy in those mice faces. Well done and lovely series!
They live only 6 months? That's ok... I didn't need my heart anyway... Pretty babies
I thought he said, eighteen months ???
yes 18 months it says so at the top of the pictures.
Cuteness overload! Absolutely adorable – all of them! <3
Awww this is adorable!
This is the cutest thing I've seen in a long time. Thank you BP!
Their scientific name is Micromys minutus. Micromouse <3
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.
I would watch that forever!
If I didn't have four cats, I would definitely be getting at least four adorable tiny field mice.
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.😊
Amazing photography. Are the backgrounds manipulated with photo shop or photo editor?
Such adorable little critters... I want a couple !
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”
I now look for these darling mouse photos every day, & love to read comments made by other people, some downright poetic, they can pull at your heart strings these little fellows.
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.
Your photos are incredible what patience and talent you have. Please told me you have greeting cards with there photos on. I'd like to buy one or more. .
Of every one, each better the last!
purely magical creatures
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 !!!
It's so lovlely lovely lovely lovely❤
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
Mice are so adorable. I loved mine.
Wow. It took me a few minutes to realize it, but these critters are very small.
I absolutely love these little buggers. Have had rats as pets on and off for years. Such cute little faces, and I love how they rely on their back feet and tails for balance.
I love them, just wish more were in their natural habitats than in the studio.
I was like " Awwwwwww" , then in between this page there's an AD "SAY GOODBYE TO RODENTS" =(
Awwww <3 why are these rodents so cute??
I now have a new tiny thing to squeeeeeee over! Hummingbirds are still my favorite tiny squeeeeeee, but these l'il dudes are right up there.
Awww where these critters found???
AWESOME! ALL of them!
Their house looks so cosy!!
Absolutely my fav pics EVER
Awwwwwwwwe!
Very pretty photo's and super cute mice!!
These photos are just precious.
Omg 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 How tiny are they??
That's so cute I wanna cry...
My cat was licking his lips and purring like a mad thing
Kill it with fire
Soni i really dont want to do that to you
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Aww those poor wee creatures Wii get mowed down to harvest those crops for vegan products.
Nope, 'cause it's a captive population. Reminds me of "Mouseville" from The Green Mile.
they are so tiny and adorable
I am in love. Beautiful images and even more beautiful creatures. This is nothing but the celebration of life! You can see pure joy in those mice faces. Well done and lovely series!
They live only 6 months? That's ok... I didn't need my heart anyway... Pretty babies
I thought he said, eighteen months ???
yes 18 months it says so at the top of the pictures.
Cuteness overload! Absolutely adorable – all of them! <3
Awww this is adorable!
This is the cutest thing I've seen in a long time. Thank you BP!
Their scientific name is Micromys minutus. Micromouse <3
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.
I would watch that forever!
If I didn't have four cats, I would definitely be getting at least four adorable tiny field mice.
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.😊
Amazing photography. Are the backgrounds manipulated with photo shop or photo editor?
Such adorable little critters... I want a couple !
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”
I now look for these darling mouse photos every day, & love to read comments made by other people, some downright poetic, they can pull at your heart strings these little fellows.
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.
Your photos are incredible what patience and talent you have. Please told me you have greeting cards with there photos on. I'd like to buy one or more. .
Of every one, each better the last!
purely magical creatures
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 !!!
It's so lovlely lovely lovely lovely❤
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
Mice are so adorable. I loved mine.
Wow. It took me a few minutes to realize it, but these critters are very small.
I absolutely love these little buggers. Have had rats as pets on and off for years. Such cute little faces, and I love how they rely on their back feet and tails for balance.
I love them, just wish more were in their natural habitats than in the studio.
I was like " Awwwwwww" , then in between this page there's an AD "SAY GOODBYE TO RODENTS" =(
Awwww <3 why are these rodents so cute??
I now have a new tiny thing to squeeeeeee over! Hummingbirds are still my favorite tiny squeeeeeee, but these l'il dudes are right up there.
Awww where these critters found???
AWESOME! ALL of them!
Their house looks so cosy!!
Absolutely my fav pics EVER
Awwwwwwwwe!
Very pretty photo's and super cute mice!!
These photos are just precious.
Omg 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 How tiny are they??
That's so cute I wanna cry...
My cat was licking his lips and purring like a mad thing
Kill it with fire
Soni i really dont want to do that to you
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Aww those poor wee creatures Wii get mowed down to harvest those crops for vegan products.
Nope, 'cause it's a captive population. Reminds me of "Mouseville" from The Green Mile.