The focus of its distribution is in eastern Austria, and there especially in urban agglomerations: cities are heat islands and offer a variety of favorable sites for mouse barley, such as roadsides and traffic islands. The plant is also well adapted to mowing and footfall stress.
The awns of the mature seeds, up to 2.5 centimeters long, have barbs and stick to clothing or shoes as they pass by, but also to the fur (ears, eyes) of animals. This causes itching in animals: they scratch or roll, which can lead to the seeds getting deeper into the fur or eyes, causing painful inflammation.
