)Anyway, over the past few months I have seen these tiny mice about in the garden from time to time, even in my workshop on the odd occasion. What struck me as interesting right from the first sightings, was their diminutive size and their boldness. At first I thought I had seen only juveniles, but then I never saw any that were bigger. They appear to be quite unafraid of humans, allowing you to approach quite close before casually and unhurriedly looking for cover. I have never seen these before in SA and suspected that they may be foreign rodents that may have been sold by pet shops and have somehow escaped into the open. Being so tiny they might be able to escape from the traditional type cages that we have here, being able to fit through the bars.
Yesterday I was pottering about outside when one of these little fellows comes out onto the lawn quite close and unconcernedly sits like a squirrel eating winter-grass seeds. It was easy to catch him by hand (I checked that it was a male), and after just three attempts to escape, he was quite happy to remain in my hand. Again, strangely for a wild creature, it didn't even try to bite me.
The closest identification I can find to this little guy is a San Diego pocket mouse (origin California) which were thought to be extinct over 20 yrs ago but have since been spotted in 3 small locations over there. Alternatively a Pacific pocket mouse. (The slow and deliberate movements of these local guys, which may be a form of energy conservation, seems to fit the San Diego variety better since they live in semi arid locations.)
I took some pics before releasing him again. Anyone seen these before? (This one appears to be quite big by comparison to the others I've seen ... obviously an adult male).
(Excuse the dirty finger nails .... I was working in the garden!
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