White Footed Deermouse

Description

The White-footed Deermouse is a mouse that occurs statewide and is one of the most abundant mammals in the forests of Tennessee. It is a small rodent with large, black eyes, large ears, and long, coarse whiskers.   The color usually ranges from grayish to reddish-brown above, often with a darker band down the center of the back.   The feet, lower part of the face, and the undersides are white, which sharply contrasts with the upper color. Sparsely furred tails have a darker upper half and lighter lower half, but do not have a sharp contrast between the two surfaces.   Tails are about one-half the total length of the body and lack a tuft of hair at the tip.

Length:  5.5 - 8.4 inches
Tail:  2.5 - 4.0 inches
Ears:  0.6 - 0.8 inches
Weight:  0.4 - 1.0 ounces

Similar Species: White-footed Deermouse cannot reliably be separated from North American Deermouse and Cotton Deermouse without a detailed analysis of skull and dental formations, and possibly an expert.

Habitat: Primarily found in forests and around forest edges, but can be found in a variety of habitats, including scrubland and fencerows.

Diet: Omnivorous; primarily eating seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, insects, and grains when available. One of its favorite foods is black cherry pits.

Breeding information: The peak of the White-footed Deermouse breeding activity is early spring through late summer.  Some females may have as many as 5 litters per year.   Gestation lasts 22-25 days, and typically 1-8 young (average 4) are born per litter.   Newborns are blind, pink, and weigh about 2 grams. Females nurse them until they are weaned at 2-3 weeks old.

Status in Tennessee: A common species in woodland habitat; no conservation concerns.

Best places to see in Tennessee: Along the edges of woodlands or fencerows with scattered brush piles.