Wood mice have soft, smooth fur which is sandy or orange brown on the head and back, yellowish on the flanks and white on the belly. There is usually a small streak of yellow pigmentation in the otherwise white fur of the chest. The tail is almost as long as the body and has a sparse covering of black hairs. The tops of the feet are covered by short white hairs and each toe - four on the fore feet and five on the hind - ends in a sharp claw.