Description

Distinguishing Features - Head/body length: 95 - 120mm; Tail: 77 - 118mm; Weight: 14 - 45g. Fur brown on the back and white on the underside with a complete band of yellow fur across the neck area. Large ears, protruding eyes and long tail.

Habitat

Widespread throughout Europe, Scandinavia and western Russia. Favours mature deciduous woodland but it is a regular visitor to houses in some areas. Its range may be limited by climatic factors, possibly showing an aversion to wetter, colder areas. Its distribution is also associated with that of long established woodland sites.

Diet

Feeds primarily on tree seed, fruits, some green plants and invertebrates; their diet is very similar to their close relative the wood mouse.

Notes

Yellow-necked mice are rarely seen except where they enter property. Traditionally some houses in rural settings experience a seasonal problem of invasion by this species They can be a pest, spoiling and consuming stored food or interfering with electrical wiring. They are unlikely to cause much damage to field crops due to their close affinity with woodland.

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