Peromyscus leucopus
photo credit: www.discoverlife.org
ID
- Tail is slightly less than half of the animal’s total length
- Grayish-brown to dull orange-brown upper parts with darkish mid-dorsum
- White underparts
Distribution
Reproduction
- Breeding season lasts from spring (March through May) until fall (October or November)
- Gestation is about 23 days, litters usually have 4 or 5 young
- Females produce several litters over the summer and can start breeding at 2 months old
- Males assist in taking care of the young, though the females play a much larger role in young-rearing (Whitaker)
Behavior
- Nocturnal
- Semi-arboreal
- Explore home-range thoroughly and are quick to locate hiding spots
- Make nests in a wide variety of locations
- In colder weather, they may use communal nesting to keep warm
- Most individuals remain active through the winter, though some enter torpor
- Collect and cache food (Whitaker)
Food Habits
- Nutlets, berries, seeds, caterpillars, ground beetles, centipedes, snails, small birds, and sometimes even their own kind (Whitaker)
Size/Life Cycle
- Average measurements: 150-205 mm (total length), 15-25 g (total weight) (Smithsonian)
Predators
- Owl, hawk, predatory mammals, snakes. Pretty much everything (Whitaker)
Habitat
- Forest edges, brushy areas, hedgerows, houses (Whitaker)