Recently, photographer Simon Dell found a family of mice running around his garden. But instead of setting traps, he took out his toolbox and built them a miniature village. They repaid him by posing in front of his camera.

“One day I went out to take pictures of the birds in the garden, and since I had just cut the grass I saw something moving on the ground. I pointed the camera at it and was amazed to see an adorable little mouse, standing like a meerkat. It made me very happy.”

“I knew instantly he was a star, and I ran inside to find peanuts to leave him. I sat there, waiting, and it only took him a few minutes to come back for his treats.”

“At that moment I thought of giving him a little shelter and a safe place to hide and feed.”

“I had some experience taking pictures of wildlife and mice, as I once had a mouse in the shed and only went out at night. It was a field mouse and we called him Stuart.”

“It was just one mouse, but in early 2018 it left, probably to find a mate. I hope he’ll come back this winter and maybe meet the new mice in the garden.”

“In the garden we have many kinds of birds: starlings, sparrows, blackbirds, robins and many more. Even a royal heron that has taken almost all the fish in my ponds.”

“There is also a fox that visits us every night and many hedgehogs and squirrels.”

“At first there was only this mouse. It had a cut on its ear and we called it George. I stacked some little logs around a box as a house for him and covered him with moss and hay to offer him some shelter.”

“I saw cats sitting on the other side of the fence, just a few yards away, so the logs gave him a little more security, too.”

“Then I put some wire on the fence so the cats couldn’t get at the mouse in any way. I also have a Jack Russell Terrier dog, so the cats know not to come in. And the dog doesn’t even pay attention to the mouse.”

“A couple of days later I realized there might be more than one mouse inside the shelter, and it didn’t take long for them to come out for food.”

“I decided to build them a house, since I wanted them to be safe. Also, since I was feeding them, I thought it would be my fault if they went out to get my food and became prey. And as a photographer, I wanted to create a nice habitat for them when I took pictures.”

“When more mice arrived in the following days, I made changes to the shelter, adding more rooms. The interior of the structure has 2 or 3 entrances and exits, so they can escape if they need to. And after weeks and months they haven’t stopped growing.”

“I added more space and prepared it for the cold winter, giving them the best possible chance of survival. I’ve already counted five or more mice, and the female, Mildred, is very pregnant, so we’re expecting a good litter of mice soon.”

“I know that mice can have up to 14 offspring, so maybe I’ll build more rooms for them. I have space and I don’t mind living next to these lovely, photogenic little creatures.”

“The mice seem to love their shelter and moved in at once. They’re field creatures, so they still run away if I get too close or move too fast, but I often manage to sit not too far away with the camera and they seem happy going in and out with nuts and seeds.”

“The food I normally give them is all natural. I pick berries, nuts and fruits that grow alongside the trails in the Shire Brook Valley Nature Reserve. I also give them the same mixture of seeds that I give to the birds, along with sunflower seeds and hazelnuts or walnuts. As a treat I give them a couple of dried flour worms and balls of fat, but I always try to give them healthy and natural food.”

“I’ve always loved photography, but I’ve only had my DSLR camera for three years. Little by little I’m increasing my equipment and improving my cameras to improve my skills and to get better images of wildlife.”

“Better equipment and a good lens help, but nothing is better than learning to control the camera, understand the settings and understand the wildlife you are photographing. To help you get closer or know when and where to find them.”

“The mice are still here and living happily. It’s winter now and the days are shorter, so they go out less. Once it gets dark, it’s hard to see. However, during the day I see them go out to get food and in the morning there is nothing left. I also give them handfuls of feathers from an old pillow to make their beds in the shelter and warm themselves in the cold British winter nights.”

More info: The Photography of Simon Dell | George the Mouse in a log pile house