Aim

To create a network of children breeding threatened native British wildlife for release into the wild

"A truly sensational idea" - Chris Packham

Website: www.wild-pets.org

Three years ago, two 11 year old girls, Eva and Emily. from Devon decided to help Britain’s collapsing wildlife by breeding hundreds of harvest mice in their garages and then releasing them into the wild.

[Eva, Emily and friends with tanks of harvest mice ready for release in 2025]

Backed every step of the way by renowned ecologist Derek Gow, Eva and Emily's project worked! The mice settled into their new home, successfully bred in the first year and now, 12 months later, the first barn owl seen at the site in years has moved in, perhaps feeding on the 2nd generation of mice! (Harvest mice are such an important species because they are food for so many others.)

[Eva & Emily with their mentor, legendary ecologist Derek Gow]

The girls’ project captured public imagination and led to them appearing on Newsround, Woman’s Hour, Blue Peter and Springwatch - and then the public backed them to the tune of over £7,000 via their first crowdfunder: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/evaemilyharvestmice

Now Eva and Emily are back with an even bigger idea, WILD PETS

As of 7th October 2026, Wild Pets is  looking for TWENTY children from DEVON who are up for breeding HARVEST MICE at their homes next spring and summer. To find out what this entails and how to apply, head to the Wild Pets website: www.wild-pets.org

Wild Pets has already been backed by small grants from Devon Environment Foundation, NatureSave Trust, Mid Devon District Council and Wild About Devon. But we need to raise a lot more money to complete our plans for year one. Yes, we have launched the project without having all the funds! 

The money will pay for: 

• 20 mouse breeding kits (2 tanks, 2 mice, food & bedding for six months) 
• Supporting the Wild Kids and their families, including our animal husbandry team and our family liaison person
• Campaign costs, including our beautiful website and social media efforts
  
  
  

[Chris Packham getting bitten by Eva's mouse, Doris]

The Wild Pets project will specifically help communities prevent, prepare for, and adapt to the impacts of our changing climate by restoring native wildlife and strengthening biodiversity. Harvest mice are classified as Near Threatened in the UK, with climate change, habitat loss, fragmentation and intensive farming contributing to their decline. By breeding and releasing around 250 harvest mice into a suitable Devon habitat, we aim to establish a new breeding population, support ecosystem resilience and help restore our struggling natural environment. Through hands-on conservation, we will also empower children and families to understand these environmental challenges and take practical action to protect wildlife, restore habitats and build more nature-resilient communities for the future.

NB. Wild Pets is a project of Wild Tiverton CIC, which was established in 2023 to carry out and promote nature restoration in Devon, to tackle the twin problems of ecological collapse and climate change

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 1st December 2026 at 12:00pm