A to Z of Pests

Yellow Necked Field Mouse

Apodemus flavicollis

Appearance

• Adults – Head and body: 95 to 120 mm; tail 75 – 110mm. Weight ranges between 14 and 45g.
• They have brown fur on their backs and white on the underside with a distinctive complete band of yellow fur around the neck.
• They have large ears, protruding eyes and a long tail.

Lifecycle

• Breeding occurs from March or April until October, with gestation taking 25 or 26 days.
• Young are fully weaned after about 18 days and usually start to breed the year following their birth.
• Most mice do not survive longer than 12 months.

Habits

• They can spoil or consume stored food or interfere with electrical wiring.
• They prefer mature broad-leafed woodland and habitats such as hedges, rural gardens and buildings.
• They are more likely to enter buildings than wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus).