Deer Mouse

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)