Conservation Status: Locally Common. In recent years they are believed to be declining both in range and numbers.
Hertfordshire: Scarce. Patchy distribution. Monitoring survey in progress.
Protection: No legal protection.
General Information: The Yellow-necked mouse differs from the wood mouse by being larger and posessing a continuous yellow band, passing across the chest and lining the forelegs. (The wood mouse may have a yellow patch or streak). When held in the hand the yellow-necked mouse is more vigourous and is more inclined to bite.They prefer mature broad leaved woodland (in particular areas of semi-natural ancient woodland) including marginal habitats such as hedges, rural gardens and buildings. They will enter houses more frequently than wood mice.More research is needed to obtain better ecological information about the species.
Threats: Their main threat is loss of ancient woodland, habitat loss and fragmentation causing isolation of populations.
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