Deer Mice
Peromyscus maniculatus (Wagner)
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Size: Deer mouse adult's head+body length is 2.75-4 in (7-10 cm); tail length is about 2-5 in (5-13 cm); weight is about 1 ounce (10-35 g).
Characteristics: Tail is longer than half of head+body length, sharply bicolored, and covered with short hairs or fur. Hind feet have six pads each.
Color: The deer mouse is bicolored, pale gray/buff to deep red/brown above, and white below.
Geographic Range: Western U.S. from Mexico to so. Yukon and Northwest territories of Canada; eastern U.S. from Hudson Bay to Pennsylvania, so. Appalachians, c. Arkansas and c. Texas.
Comparison with other mice: All Peromyscus species, of which the deer mouse is one, are similar to each other, but differ from the house mouse because of being bicolored with hairy tails. Old field mouse has lighter color above, and a shorter tail. Canyon mouse has tail with a tufted tip that is longer. Brush mouse's tail is equal to or longer than head+body length. California mouse is much larger, with head+body 3 3/4 to 5 in long (10-13 cm), and is yellow/brown to gray mixed with black above; tail is not strongly bicolored.
Habitat: Deer mice live utside in tree hollows, old fence posts, log piles, abandoned nests and burrows, or in their own old burrows. Inside in wall voids, corners, small places in basements and attics, storage boxes, stuffed furniture. Home range is 1/2 to 3 acres, with up to 10-15 deer mice per acre in summer.
Food: Deer mice eat insects, seeds, nuts, berries, fruits, underground fungus. Food is stored in protected places for winter use.
Biology: Litters have about 3-5 young. With a gestation period of 21-24 days, females have 2-4 litters per year, mostly in the spring. They begin breeding at 5-6 weeks of age.
Damage: During the cold months deer mice enter garages, sheds and homes that border on wooded areas. They may get into stored food, or nest in upholstered furniture. They are primary carriers of hantavirus, which is transmitted mainly by the inhalation of dust particles that are contaminated with the urine or feces of infected mice.
Environmental Policy
The employees of American Pest Management are committed to improving the quality of life for all of our customers by providing the safest and most effective treatment for the management of pests which pose a threat to their health, property, and food supply. History has shown that neglecting to control pests such as cockroaches, mosquitoes, rodents, and ticks, and the misapplication of pest control products are equally dangerous.
