# Deer Mouse (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) The Deer Mouse is a small, friendly creature with big ears and a soft coat. They love to explore their homes in the wild and are very curious! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Also known as:** Peromyscus maniculatus ![Deer Mouse](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425855/objects/4484.jpg) ## Appearance The Deer Mouse has soft, reddish-brown or grayish fur on its back and a stark white belly, chest, and feet. Its tail is often bicolored, dark on top and white underneath, which helps distinguish it from other mice. It also has large ears and big, dark eyes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Apicomplexa - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Cricetidae - **Genus:** Peromyscus ## Interesting facts - A Deer Mouse can build very elaborate nests with tunnels and multiple rooms! - Deer Mice can live almost anywhere, from forests to deserts, making them super adaptable! - These tiny mice can squeeze through holes smaller than a dime! - They can actually swim pretty well, using their tails to steer in water! ## Special abilities - **Night Vision Ninja:** Deer Mouse has large, dark eyes that help them see well in very dim light, perfect for finding food at night! - **Super Sniffer:** Deer Mouse can smell incredibly well, helping them locate tiny seeds and nuts hidden under leaves and snow. - **Agile Athlete:** Deer Mouse can jump and climb with amazing agility, helping them escape predators and reach yummy food sources. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 12-28 cm - **Weight:** 0.01-0.035 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-2 years - **Speed:** 12 km/h - **Litter Size:** 3-7 - **Gestation:** 20-25 days ## Diet & Feeding This little omnivore enjoys a varied diet of seeds, fruits, fungi, and tasty insects. - **Primary Foods:** seeds, nuts, berries, insects, fungi - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — A common nocturnal predator of deer mice. - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Hunts deer mice as part of its varied diet. - **Eats:** Ponderosa Pine (*Pinus ponderosa*) — Feeds on seeds from these trees. - **Eaten by:** [Gopher Snake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gopher-snake) (*Pituophis catenifer*) — Preys on deer mice in grasslands. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Deer Mice are gentle animals, but it's best to watch them from a distance in nature. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Deer Mouse? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Deer Mouse? 12-28 cm ### How much does Deer Mouse weigh? 0.01-0.035 kg ### How long does Deer Mouse live? 1-2 years ### How fast can Deer Mouse move? 12 km/h ### What does Deer Mouse eat? This little omnivore enjoys a varied diet of seeds, fruits, fungi, and tasty insects. ### How does Deer Mouse hunt? Foraging ### How many babies does Deer Mouse usually have? 3-7 ## Where to spot - [Staten Island Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/staten-island-zoo) — New York, US · Zoo - [Canaan](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/canaan) — Connecticut, US · Neighborhood ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Deer Mouse: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse)