# Yellow-necked Field Mouse (*Apodemus flavicollis*) The Yellow-necked Field Mouse is a small, cute mouse with a yellowish neck. They love to scurry around in fields and forests, looking for seeds and plants to munch on. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Yellow-necked Field Mouse](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Apodemus.flavicollis.jpg&width=800) Photo: James Lindsey, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apodemus.flavicollis.jpg) ## Appearance The Yellow-necked Field Mouse has soft, yellowish-brown fur on its back, a bright white belly, and a distinctive band of yellow fur across its chest and throat. It possesses large ears, prominent black eyes, and a tail typically as long as its body, making it visually distinct from other field mice. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Muridae - **Genus:** Apodemus ## Interesting facts - Females can have up to 4 litters a year, quickly increasing their population! - Their continuously growing front teeth mean they must constantly gnaw to keep them short! - They build deep, complex underground burrow systems with multiple exits and food stores. - Yellow-necked mice can jump over 70cm high from a standing start! ## Special abilities - **Acrobatic Climber:** Yellow-necked Field Mouse can scale trees easily because of strong claws that help them forage for seeds high up. - **Sensitive Whiskers:** Yellow-necked Field Mouse has long whiskers that help them navigate in darkness and find food underground. - **Food Hoarder:** Yellow-necked Field Mouse can store large amounts of food in its burrows, helping them survive cold winters. - **Alert Hearing:** Yellow-necked Field Mouse has large ears that help them detect approaching predators from far away. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 8.5-12 cm - **Weight:** 0.02-0.05 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-2 years - **Speed:** 13 km/h - **Litter Size:** 2-11 - **Gestation:** 25-26 days ## Diet & Feeding These small mammals eat a varied diet of seeds, nuts, fruits, and insects. - **Primary Foods:** Acorns, Beech nuts, Seeds, Berries, Invertebrates - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — A common predator in its forest habitat. - **Eaten by:** [Tawny Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tawny-owl) (*Strix aluco*) — Hunts at night when mice are active and visible. - **Eaten by:** Least Weasel (*Mustela nivalis*) — Small enough to follow mice into their burrows. - **Eats:** Common Oak (*Quercus robur*) — Relies on their acorns for food, especially in autumn. - **Eats:** [European Beech](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-beech) (*Fagus sylvatica*) — Consumes beech nuts when they are available. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a mouse, it's best to watch from a distance and not try to touch it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Yellow-necked Field Mouse? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Yellow-necked Field Mouse? 8.5-12 cm ### How much does Yellow-necked Field Mouse weigh? 0.02-0.05 kg ### How long does Yellow-necked Field Mouse live? 1-2 years ### How fast can Yellow-necked Field Mouse move? 13 km/h ### What does Yellow-necked Field Mouse eat? These small mammals eat a varied diet of seeds, nuts, fruits, and insects. ### Where is Yellow-necked Field Mouse usually found? Grasslands ### How does Yellow-necked Field Mouse hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Yellow-necked Field Mouse: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-necked-field-mouse)