Deer Mouse

Category:

Actual Size: 5” to 8” long including the tail

Characteristics: Gray to reddish-brown with white feet and underbelly.

Habitat: Build nests in trees or beneath logs outdoors; inside, often found in basements or attics.

Habits: 

  • As nocturnal pests, they prefer to nest in dark outdoor areas.
  • Sometimes referred to as field mice or white-footed mice.
  • Transmits the potentially fatal Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome.

Deer Mice in Bristol and Johnson City TN

Most often, found in rural areas outdoors, deer mice rarely invade residential properties. That said, they are still a common problem in agricultural areas, outbuildings, sheds, and more. Their true danger lies in the fact that they are common carriers of hantavirus. They feed at dusk and dawn and tend to prefer insects, seeds, nuts, berries, and more. These rodents are a common problem in agricultural areas, and will sometimes look for shelter in homes over winter. Deer mice are nocturnal and spend their days in cup-shaped nests made of stems, leaves, and fibrous materials.

Deer Mouse Habitat

Deer mice are able to reside in a number of different places and build unique nests. These nests are lined with feathers or shredded cloth and can be found in tree hollows, fence posts, abandoned squirrel and bird nests, and the underside of logs and rocks. In homes, deer mice construct nests in low activity areas such as basements, attics, garages, and crawl spaces. Deer mice do not hibernate and may invade homes during winter months seeking shelter in storage boxes, wall voids, and upholstered furniture.

Deer Mouse Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Throughout most of the year, deer mice nest in outdoor areas that are quiet, dark, and undisturbed. When the weather gets colder during winter, deer mice tend to invade homes, garages, sheds, and sometimes even vehicles. When they get indoors, they are often found in basements or attics. The biggest threat of deer mice is that they are able to transmit the dangerous—and potentially fatal—hantavirus. This disease is often transmitted through contact with mouse carcasses, or by breathing in air-borne urine droplets from infected deer mice. If you have a deer mouse infestation in your Bristol and Johnson City property, always contact a licensed rodent control company.