Mammal · GBIF taxon 2437756
Yellow-necked Field Mouse
Apodemus flavicollisAlso known as Yellow-necked Mouse, Yellow-necked Wood Mouse
Yellow-necked field mice leap through broadleaf woodland canopies with remarkable agility, using their exceptionally long tails for balance while foraging for seeds and acorns. Recognized by a complete golden-yellow band across the throat, these nocturnal rodents build complex underground burrows lined with leaves. During autumn, they store large seed caches in tree hollows and frequently seek winter shelter inside rural buildings.
NocturnalWoodlandAgile Climber
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Acorns
- Beech Mast
- Insects
Predators
- Tawny Owl
- Red Fox
- Weasel
ThreatsLoss of mature broadleaf forest, habitat fragmentation, and rodenticide use
HabitatsDeciduous woodlands, mature broadleaf forests, hedgerows, and orchards
Life span1–2 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyMuridae
- SpeciesApodemus flavicollis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskModerate
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is moderate
- Carries pathogens like Dobrava hantavirus; avoid handling wild rodents or inhaling dust from their droppings.
- Why it is dangerous
- Acts as a reservoir for Dobrava hantavirus and carries ticks that transmit tick-borne encephalitis to humans.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a complete yellow-orange collar across the throat, large prominent ears, and a long tail equal to body length.
- What to do
- Do not touch live or dead individuals, and wear a mask when clearing rodent droppings in outbuildings.
Responsible observation
- Observe at dusk: Scan woodland floors and low tree trunks with a red-light flashlight after sunset.
- Sanitize living spaces: Seal structural gaps in autumn and spray droppings with disinfectant before cleaning.
Predator (c) caroline legg, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Competitor Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Christian Fischer / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative "Striped field mouse" by agulivanov is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
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