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White-footed Mouse - Peromyscus leucopus

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Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S4

Agency Status
USFWS: none
USFS: none
BLM: none
CFWCS Tier: 2



 

General Description
Adults are reddish brown (juveniles gray), with a white belly, white feet, membranous ears, and bicolored tail (usually not sharply bicolored); adult total length 145-205 mm, tail 62-97 mm (usually shorter than head and body), hind foot 18-24 mm, ear 13-19 mm; 16-29 g in the northeastern U.S.; 3 pairs of mammae (Hall 1981, Godin 1977, Paradiso 1960).

Diagnostic Characteristics
Often difficult to distinguish from p. maniculatus. in new england, differs from maniculatus by having coarser and redder pelage, a more well-defined mid-dorsal stripe, a tail that is less distinctly white on the ventral surface and that seldom is as long as the head and body, and a broader rostrum (godin 1977). see hoffmeister (1986) for differences from peromyscus species in the southwestern u.s.

Distribution
Montana Range





Migration
Nonmigratory.

Habitat
Riparian woodland, dendritic distribution, uses thickets, shrubs. Nest 7 in. diameter of plant materials.

Food Habits
Somewhat omnivorous. Seeds, fruits and insects are dominant items, with order of importance varying between season and ranges.

Ecology
Semi-arboreal.

Reproductive Characteristics
Probably restricted to warmer months with peaks in Mar-Apr and Sept-Oct, in midsummer heat reporduction may slow down.

Citations & Sources
Citation for data on this website:
White-footed Mouse — Peromyscus leucopus.  Montana Field Guide.  Retrieved on September 5, 2008, from http://FieldGuide.mt.gov/detail_AMAFF03070.aspx
 
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