Name: Deer Mouse

Scientific Name: Peromyscus Maniculatus

Description of Deer Mouse: These mice have white feet, usually white undersides, and brown or black fur. Their bicolored tails are relatively long and can be as long as the head and body.

In comparison to house mice, deer mice have larger eyes and ears. They are considered by most people to be more “attractive” than house mice, and they do not have the characteristic mousy odor of house mice. All species of Peromyscus cause similar problems and require similar solutions.

Deer Mouse Range and Reproduction: The deer mouse is the most widely distributed and abundant mammal in  North America. The deer mouse occupies nearly every type of habitat within its range, from forests to grasslands.  Deer mice are mostly nocturnal with a home range of 1/3 acre to 4 acres with a wild population density of about 15 mice per acre.

In warm regions like Arizona, reproduction may occur more or less year-round in Deer Mice. Litter size varies from 1 to 8 young, but is usually 3 to 5. Females may have from 2 to 4 or more litters per year, depending on climate. Mated pairs usually remain together during the breeding season but may take new mates in the spring if both survive the winter. If one mate dies, a new one is acquired. Family groups usually nest together through the winter. They do not hibernate but may become torpid for a few days when winter weather is severe.

Health Information: The principal problem caused by deer mice is their tendency to enter homes, cabins and other structures that are not rodent-proofed. It is in these places that they build nests, store food and can cause considerable damage to upholstered furniture, mattresses, clothing, paper or other materials that they find suitable for their nest-building activities. Nests, droppings, and other signs left by these mice are similar to those of house mice. Deer mice have a greater tendency to cache food supplies, such as acorns, seeds or nuts, than do house mice. Deer mice are uncommon in urban or suburban residential areas unless there is considerable open space, such as fields and parks nearby.

Deer mice occasionally dig up and consume newly planted seeds in gardens, flowerbeds and field borders. Their excellent sense of smell makes them highly efficient at locating and digging up buried seed. In mid-1993, the deer mouse was first implicated as a potential reservoir of a type of hantavirus responsible for an adult respiratory distress syndrome, leading to several deaths in the Four Corners area of the United States. Subsequent isolations of the virus thought responsible for this illness have been made from several Western states. The source of the disease is thought to be through human contact with urine, feces or saliva from infected rodents.

For detailed information, please call Rodent Proof or visit the Center for Disease Control.

Important Facts on the Deer Mouse:

• Deer mice can chew through wiring, posing a significant threat of fire and is a general nuisance.

• Deer mice can enter penetrations and vents in the home, but may also build nests in residential yards near sheltered areas.

• Nests consist of stems, twigs, leaves, roots of grasses and other fibrous materials. They may be lined with fur, feathers or shredded cloth. The deer mouse often builds its nest underground in cavities beneath the roots of trees or shrubs, beneath a log or board, or in a burrow made by another rodent. Sometimes deer mice nest in aboveground sites such as a hollow log or fencepost, or in cupboards and furniture of unoccupied buildings.

• Deer mice are primarily seed eaters. Frequently they will feed on seeds, nuts, acorns and other similar items that are available. They also consume fruits, insects and insect larvae, fungi and possibly some green vegetation. They often store quantities of food near their nest sites, particularly in the fall when seeds, nuts, or acorns are abundant.

Links: Health Information on Roof Rats from the Center for Disease Control.