What do forest mice eat? - briefly
Woodland rodents primarily consume seeds, nuts, berries, and other plant matter, supplementing this with insects, larvae, and fungal spores. Their diet shifts toward higher‑protein prey such as insects during the spring and early summer.
What do forest mice eat? - in detail
Forest mice obtain energy primarily from plant material. Seeds from grasses, herbs, and trees constitute the bulk of their intake. Nuts, such as acorns and hazelnuts, provide high‑fat reserves during autumn. Fruit fragments, including berries and fallen apples, supplement carbohydrate supply in summer.
In addition to vegetation, forest mice consume animal matter. Invertebrates—earthworms, beetle larvae, and spiders—deliver protein essential for growth. Occasionally, small vertebrate carrion and eggs are ingested when available. Fungal tissues, especially mycelium and sporocarps, add micronutrients and aid digestion.
Seasonal shifts modify the diet composition:
- Spring: fresh shoots, buds, and emerging insects.
- Summer: berries, seeds, and abundant arthropods.
- Autumn: nuts, fallen fruit, and increased fungal foraging.
- Winter: stored seeds, bark flakes, and limited arthropods.
Water intake derives from moist food items and occasional drinking from puddles or dew‑covered surfaces. Digestive efficiency relies on a cecum adapted to ferment fibrous plant components, allowing extraction of nutrients from otherwise indigestible cellulose.