Deer Mouse

Peromyscus maniculatus

ID

• Two morphological/behavioral forms:
  • Large, long-tailed, big-eared, woodland form
  • Smaller, short-tailed, small-eared field form
• Two morphs are separate species, but have a circular overlap in Wisconsin that integrates the two
• Brownish-gray upper parts with a slightly darker mid-dorsal stripe
• Tail is gray on top and white on bottom
• White feet (Whitaker)

Distribution

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Reproduction

• Promiscuous
• Breeding season starts in early spring, around March, and lasts until later in the fall, around October
• Gestation lasts 23 to 24 days unless the mother is still lactating from another litter, which then bumps it up to 27 days
• Litters range from 2 to 7 young (Whitaker)

Behavior

• Nocturnal, spending daytime in permanent nests or temporary refuges
• Mostly ground-dwelling, but can climb to occupy vacant squirrel and bird nests
• Do not hibernate, but store a large amount of nuts and seeds (Whitaker)
• Can tunnel through snow or run on the surface (Smithsonian)

Food Habits

• Seeds and mast of the forest floor, berries, some insects, small birds and mice, nuts. (Whitaker)

Size/Life Cycle

• Average measurements: 120-225 mm (total length), 10-30 g (total weight)

Predators

• Predatory mammals, snakes, hawks, owls. (Whitaker)

Habitat

• Extremely diverse habitat preference
• Forests (Whitaker)