seedmice 🌱 : lore

[coconutcoyote]

quick information:
• mammal/avian hybrids
• omnivores
ㅤ☆ fruits
ㅤ☆ vegetables
ㅤ☆ small insects
• warm-blooded
• communicate in chirps/yips

what exactly is a seedmouse?
a seedmouse (pl. seedmice) is a hybrid creature, mixed with mouse and bird. seedmice sport a mouse-like body and a pair of avian legs. these creatures are fairly small, limited to about the size of a grown male human's pinky finger. other variations of seedmice have been documented at the size of an adult's hand, just about twice as large as the average seedmouse.

seedmice were named for their habit of collecting seeds and small sprouts. they are known to use them to decorate their nests or bodies, and may be used during their courting rituals. some seedmice have a pouch where they may store their seeds while out collecting, but most will usually carry around a small basket.

seedmice were born to tend to gardens, their natural habitat. seedmice work best in large groups and keep said garden perfectly healthy. it is now known that seedmice can speak to plant life. it’s even possible for bonds to form between seedmouse and plant. plant symbiosis has also been seen. while the plants do not grow from the seedmouse, they are connected to the seedmouse and together they grow in power.

DO NOT POST.

[coconutcoyote]

breeding

courting ritual

Adult seedmice of all genders court each other when trying to find a mate. These rituals compose of “singing” and collecting the best seeds. A seedmouse may have multiple courters aiming for their hand, but in the end, they choose one to mate with. Courting usually occurs in the warmer seasons of spring and summer where the seedmice’s pups can be born safely.

mating

While seedmice have a tendency to be clingy, especially to people and gardens, seedmice often take more than one mate in their lifetime. And while mates are chosen through courting rituals, seedmice then spend some time speaking with the “winning” seedmouse. This is the final step a seedmouse takes in choosing a mate. If the seedmouse is no longer attracted, they may hiss or simply turn their back and walk away, seeking more seedmice to court them. If the mate is favorable, they will form a bond and mate.

nests

Once a seedmouse takes a mate, the pair take up the job of creating a nest. Nests are created from small sticks, feathers and other soft materials. The nest is then adorned with seeds and small plants. While a seedmouse is part bird (avian), they do not lay eggs, but give birth to live pups. The nest is cushioned to keep the pups from hurting themselves. Nests are usually built on small trees, such as a baby orange tree, to keep ground predators from sniffing out the nest too easily. Nests of pups can be anything from 1-4 pups.

pup growth

Both parents raise their pups. They tend to be fiercely protective over their young and are known to be aggressive in the first couple weeks after the birth of their pups.

█ #f8d7cc █ #ebb39f █ #c8907d █ #ba8372