White-Footed and Deer Mice

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln The Handbook: Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center Wildlife Damage for July 1994 White-Footed and Deer Mice Robert M. Timm University of California, Hopland Walter E. Howard University of California, Davis Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdmhandbook Part of the Environmental Sciences Commons Timm, Robert M. and Howard, Walter E., "White-Footed and Deer Mice" (1994). The Handbook: Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage. 9. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdmhandbook/9 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Handbook: Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Robert M. Timm Superintendent and Extension Wildlife Specialist WHITE-FOOTED AND Hopland Research and Extension Center University of California DEER MICE Hopland, California 95449 Walter E. Howard Professor Emeritus Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Conservation Biology University of California Davis, California 95616 Fig. 1. The deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus Damage Prevention and Store furniture cushions, drawers, and Fumigants Control Methods other items in infrequently used None are registered. buildings in ways that reduce Trapping Exclusion nesting sites. Snap traps. Rodent-proof construction will Frightening exclude mice from buildings and Not effective. Box- (Sherman) type traps. other structures. Repellents Automatic multiple-catch traps. Use hardware cloth (1/4-inch [0.6 cm] Other Methods mesh) or similar materials to exclude Naphthalene (moth balls or flakes) mice from garden seed beds. may be effective in confined spaces. Alternative feeding: Experiments Habitat Modification Toxicants suggest that application of sunflower seed may significantly Store food items left in cabins or other Anticoagulants. reduce consumption of conifer seed infrequently used buildings in Zinc phosphide. in forest reseeding operations, rodent-proof containers. although the tests have not been followed to regeneration. PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF WILDLIFE DAMAGE — 1994 Cooperative Extension Division Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Nebraska - Lincoln United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Animal Damage Control B-47 Great Plains Agricultural Council Wildlife Committee Identification southwestern United States to the Texas panhandle. The rock mouse is Fifteen species of native mice of the limited to Colorado, southeastern genus Peromyscus may be found in the Utah, eastern Arizona, New Mexico, United States. The two most common and the far western portion of Texas. and widely distributed species are the The white-ankled mouse is found only deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus, in parts of Texas and small areas in Fig. 1) and the white-footed mouse southern New Mexico, southern (P. leucopus). This chapter will deal Oklahoma, and southern Arizona. primarily with these species. Collec- The Merriam mouse is limited to areas tively, all species of Peromyscus are within southern Arizona. The Califor- often referred to as “white-footed nia mouse ranges from San Francisco mice” or “deer mice.” Other species a Bay to northern Baja California, include the brush mouse (P. boylei), including parts of the southern San cactus mouse (P. eremicus), canyon Joaquin Valley. The Sitka mouse is mouse (P. crinitus), cotton mouse found only on certain islands of Alaska (P. gossypinus), golden mouse and British Columbia. (P. nuttalli), piñon mouse (P. truei), rock mouse (P. difficilis), white-ankled The oldfield mouse is distributed mouse (P. pectoralis), Merriam mouse across eastern Alabama, Georgia, (P. merriami), California mouse South Carolina, and Florida. The (P. californicus), Sitka mouse Florida mouse, as its name indicates, is (P. sitkensis), oldfield mouse (P. polio- found only in Florida. notus), and the Florida mouse (P. floridanus). Habitat All of the Peromyscus species have The deer mouse occupies nearly every white feet, usually white undersides, type of habitat within its range, from and brownish upper surfaces. Their b forests to grasslands. It is the most tails are relatively long, sometimes as widely distributed and abundant long as the head and body. The deer Fig. 2. Range of the deer mouse (P. maniculatus) mammal in North America. mouse and some other species have a (a) and white-footed mouse (P. leucopus) (b) in North America. distinct separation between the brown- The white-footed mouse is also widely ish back and white belly. Their tails are distributed but prefers wooded or brushy areas. It is sometimes found in also sharply bicolored. It is difficult The brush mouse is found from south- open areas. even for an expert to tell all of the western Missouri and northwestern species apart. Arkansas through Oklahoma, central The other species of Peromyscus have In comparison to house mice, white- and western Texas, New Mexico, somewhat more specialized habitat footed and deer mice have larger eyes southwestern Colorado, Utah, Ari- preferences. For example, the cactus and ears. They are considered by most zona, and California. The cactus mouse occurs in low deserts with people to be more “attractive” than mouse is limited to western Texas, sandy soil and scattered vegetation house mice, and they do not have the southern New Mexico, Arizona and on rocky outcrops. The brush characteristic mousy odor of house (except the northeast portion), and mouse lives in chaparral areas of semi- mice. All species of Peromyscus cause southern California. The canyon desert regions, often in rocky habitats. similar problems and require similar mouse occurs in western Colorado, solutions. northwestern New Mexico, northern Food Habits and western Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Range southern California, southeast Oregon, White-footed and deer mice are prima- and southwestern Idaho. rily seed eaters. Frequently they will feed on seeds, nuts, acorns, and other The deer mouse is found throughout The cotton mouse is found only in the similar items that are available. They most of North America (Fig. 2). The southeastern United States from east also consume fruits, insects and insect white-footed mouse is found through- Texas and Arkansas through south- larvae, fungi, and possibly some green out the United States east of the Rocky eastern Virginia. The golden mouse vegetation. They often store quantities Mountains except in parts of the occupies a similar range but it extends of food near their nest sites, particu- Southeast (Fig. 2). slightly farther north. larly in the fall when seeds, nuts, or The piñon mouse is found from south- acorns are abundant. western California through the B-48 General Biology, Reproduction, and Behavior White-footed and deer mice are mostly nocturnal with a home range of 1/3 acre to 4 acres (0.1 to 1.6 ha) or larger. A summer population density may reach a high of about 15 mice per acre (37/ha). In warm regions, reproduction may occur more or less year-round in some species. More typically, breeding occurs from spring until fall with a summer lull. This is especially true in cooler climates. Litter size varies from 1 to 8 young, but is usually 3 to 5. Fig. 3. Abandoned bird nests are frequently Females may have from 2 to 4 or more roofed and converted into white-footed mouse (P. leucopus) homes. litters per year, depending on species and climate. doned bird or squirrel nests, adding a locating and digging up buried seed. During the breeding season, female protective “roof” of twigs and other Formerly, much reforestation was white-footed and deer mice come into materials to completely enclose a attempted by direct seeding of clear- heat every fifth day until impregnated. bird’s nest (Fig. 3). Like deer mice, cut areas, but seed predation by deer The gestation period is usually 21 to 23 they nest at or just below ground level mice and white-footed mice, and by days, but may be as long as 37 days in or in buildings. other rodents and birds, caused fre- nursing females. Young are weaned quent failure in the regeneration. For when they are 2 to 3 weeks old and Damage and Damage this reason, to reestablish Douglas fir become sexually mature at about 7 to 8 Identification and other commercial timber species weeks of age. Those born in spring and today, it is often necessary to hand- summer may breed that same year. The principal problem caused by plant seedlings, despite the increased expense of this method. Mated pairs usually remain together white-footed and deer mice is their during the breeding season but may tendency to enter homes, cabins, and In mid-1993, the deer mouse (P. take new mates in the spring if both other structures that are not rodent- maniculatus) was first implicated as a survive the winter. If one mate dies, a proof. Here they build nests, store potential reservoir of a type of new one is acquired. Family groups food, and can cause considerable hantavirus responsible for an adult usually nest together through the win- damage to upholstered furniture, respiratory distress syndrome, leading ter. They do not hibernate but may mattresses, clothing, paper, or other to several deaths in the Four Corners become torpid for a few days when materials that they find suitable for area of the United States. Subsequent winter weather is severe. their nest-building activities. Nests, isolations of the virus thought respon- droppings, and other signs left by sible for this illness have been made Nests consist of stems, twigs, leaves, these mice are similar to those of house from several Western states. The roots of grasses, and other fibrous mice. White-footed and deer mice source of the disease is thought to be materials. They may be lined with fur, have a greater tendency to cache food through human contact with urine, feathers, or shredded cloth.

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