Scientific name:
Apodemus sylvaticus

Natural spread:
Europe, Asia

the forest-mouse has the biggest spread-area, that stretches with exception of the most northern areas over almost whole Eurasia, of the types of the type Apodemus, fire-mouse, field-mouse and yellow-neck-mouse.

Shape With 8-11 cm of head-torso-length and 15-30 g weight is it smaller than the yellow-neck-mouse, who is by the way it very similarly. However its underside is not down so clearly brightly put, and the sallow breast-stain, that can be missing completely, never is collar-shaped.

Way of life Yellow-neck-mouse and forest-mouse are "sister-types", with what the first climbs better and is more tied at the forest. The forest-mouse lives in rather open landscapes, yes steppes, why one calls also field-forest-mouse it recently. it likes to look for protection in the shadow of grass and herbs. In the autumn and in the winter, but also in very hot summers, both types can get into houses and can turn into the reserve-pest. The forest-mouse does herself in the low floors at grains and fruit here, the yellow-neck-mouse with preference also at bacon and meat-reserves on the attic amicably. The forest-mouse positions deep holes in tree-roots and in crevices, into which it enters also supplies from all sorts of Sämereien.

According to local climate, the female of March-September has until 4 throws with 5-8 boys. Newer crossing-attempts yielded fertile half-breeds between forest and yellow-neck-mouse, so that probably it itself only about 2 races in one, and the same type deals, especially since the differences become blurred eastward to anyway.

Picture: Leopold Kanzler, Vienna - aon.912192063@aon.at