Species: Peromyscus maniculatus
North American Deermouse
Species
Show on Lists
Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Craniata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Rodentia
Family
Cricetidae
Genus
Peromyscus
NatureServe
Classification
Other Global Common Names
Deer Mouse - Ratón - souris sylvestre
Informal Taxonomy
Animals, Vertebrates - Mammals - Rodents
Formal Taxonomy
Animalia - Craniata - Mammalia - Rodentia - Cricetidae - Peromyscus - 100 years) cannot be assumed (Pergams and Ashley 1999).
Ecology and Life History
Migration
true - false - false - were captured at trap sites up to 1.32 km apart (Rehmeier et al. 2004).
Non-migrant
true
Locally Migrant
false
Food Comments
Eats arthropods, other invertebrates, fruit, nuts/seeds, green plant material, and fungi (Wolfe et al. 1985). Insects, worms, and snails most important in summer. May store food.
Reproduction Comments
Breeding season shorter in north and at high elevations than elsewhere. In the northeastern U.S., reproduction is curtailed in fall and winter. See Kirkland and Layne (1989) for information on breeding seasons in different areas. Gestation 23 days. Litter size averages 5-6 in north, 4.5 in south, multiple litters/year (1-2 in north, more in south). Young independent in about 16-25 days (varies geographically). Young of year may attain sexual maturity by 2 months, or may not breed in some areas. Some litters fathered by more than 1 male; mating system ranges from promiscuity to facultative monogamy (Kirkland and Layne 1989).
Ecology Comments
Territorial behavior is most prevalent at high population densities. <br><br>Population density generally is lowest in spring, highest in fall (sometimes up to about 30/ha; densities as high as 109 and 163 per ha have been reported, Kirkland and Layne 1989). <br><br>In Kansas, populations increased initially following grassland fire, decreased in subsequent years (Kaufman et al. 1988, Clark and Kaufman 1990). In Virginia, populations were highest in the year following a large mast crop (Wolff 1996, J. Mamm. 77:850-856).
Length
22
Weight
33
Conservation Status
NatureServe Global Status Rank
G5
Global Status Last Reviewed
1996-11-08
Global Status Last Changed
1996-11-08
Other Status
LC - Least concern
Distribution
Conservation Status Map
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Global Range
Occurs in most of North America except most of Alaska, northern Canada, western and southeastern Mexico (occurs south to southern Baja California and through central Mexico to Colima and Oaxaca), southeastern U.S., and Atlantic coastal plain (see map in Carleton 1989).