Deer Mouse

Peromyscus maniculatus

Fact Sheet: English, Spanish.

Deer Mice

Adult deer mouse (David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org)

deer mouse

Deer mouse (6th Happiness, Wikimedia Commons)

Deer mouse

Deer mouse (Jack Kelly Clark, UC Statewide IPM Project)

Identification

  • brown to gray colored body with a white belly, furry tail and ears smaller than that of a house mouse
  • 6 inches long, including tail
  • multiple species exist

Nesting Habits

  • prefer rural areas including fields, pastures and vegetative areas around buildings
  • move indoors when it gets cold outside

Diet

  • seeds, fruits, vegetation, berries, nuts and insects

Significance

  • known carrier of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal lung disease found in mouse feces and urine

IPM Recommendations

  • Deer mice are only occasional invaders in buildings.
  • Install tight-fitting door sweeps.
  • Seal exterior cracks, crevices and areas around pipes and electrical conduits that enter buildings through walls.
  • Reduce clutter indoors and outdoors.
  • Minimize nesting habitat around property.
  • Keep all exterior doors closed.
  • Store food in pest-proof containers.
  • Use snap-traps placed with triggers toward baseboards, especially in dark corners.
  • Train kitchen and custodial staff to clean thoroughly.
  • Clear high weeds that serve as food and shelter during warm weather.

Additional Resources:

IPM for Rats and Mice: Integrated Pest Management in Sensitive Environments (University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension)