The deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) is a small, cute-looking rodent, averaging about five inches in total length.
It is called the deer mouse as a result of its resemblance to a deer – it has gray to reddish-brown colouration, a white underbelly and legs, and large, prominent eyes and leaf-like ears.
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Where are deer mice found?
Native to North America, the deer mouse is found in forests, woodlands, and agricultural areas.
Nocturnal, they are most active at dusk and during the night, and unlike many other mouse species, they are relatively poor climbers.
What diseases do deer mice carry?
Despite its harmless appearance, the deer mouse is a known carrier of serious diseases, including Lyme disease and hantavirus.
Deer mice can carry the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease. Transmission occurs through infected ticks, which pass the bacteria on to animal or human hosts.
They're also known to carry the virus Hantavirus, which is spread mainly by inhaling air contaminated with particles from the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected mice. It may also be contracted through direct contact.
Since there is currently no cure for hantavirus, it is essential to avoid contact with deer mice and any areas where they live or have left traces.
How big is the dear mouse?
Deer mice range from 8 to 17 cm (3.1 to 6.7 inches), including its tail, in size
Where do deer mice live?
Deer mice live across North America and their favourite habitat is woodlands and farmlands