Deer Mouse

deermousebg: Deer MouseCOMMON NAME: Deer Mouse

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Peromyscus maniculatus

DESCRIPTION:

The deer mouse is more widespread geographically and ecologically then any other species of north American mice. Deer mice have large black eyes, large naked ears, smooth-lying fur, white feet, and a sharply bicolored tail ending with a tuft of short, stiff hairs. The under parts are white and dorsally they are some shade of yellow-, orange-, or reddish-brown. The total length of the mouse is 4 3/4 to 8 3/4 inches of which 2 to 5 inches is tail.

LIFE HISTORY:

The deer mouse is crepuscular and nocturnal. Deer mice may breed year around, but breeding is largely determined by the abundance of food. The gestation period is 21 to 27 days. They may have 2 to 4 litters per year bearing 1 to 8 young, but usually 3 to 5. Their home range may vary in size from a few hundred square yards to 2 1/2 acres.

ECOLOGY:

Niche: The deer mouse’s diet is as varied as its habitat, it will eat anything: seeds, nuts, berries, fruits, fungi, soil-dwelling larva, insects, and other animal matter.

Habitat: There is no place that this mouse does not live, from indoors to outdoors. It may be found on the coast, in the mountains or on the desert.

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