The divergent energy-allocation strategies employed by female Peromyscus and Mus appear correlated with their respective tendencies for seasonally oriented versus opportunistic breeding in the wild. the 5- to 7-inch overall length of the house mouse. In conclusion, Peromyscus females exhibited a rigid ‘all-or-nothing’ reproductive response, typically increasing their feeding effort to support large litters, whereas Mus females eliminated pups to stabilize the energy burdens of lactation. The deer mouse is slightly larger than the common house mouse, around 6 to 8 inches from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail, vs. There was no evidence of sex-ratio adjustments in either species. Thus, as litter size was reduced, most surviving Mus pups attained similar body weights at weaning. Mus females allowed insemination and attempted lactation regardless of feeding conditions, but they routinely cannibalized offspring throughout the first 12 days of lactation. Peromyscus pups became increasingly stunted as females worked harder but obtained less food. Among Peromyscus that did become pregnant, litter size at birth and at weaning averaged five or six pups, regardless of feeding conditions. Most Peromyscus females maintained at the highest work levels did not attempt reproduction. Peromyscus maintained greater body weights, supported greater litter masses, and produced more pups at weaning than their Mus counterparts, but Peromyscus also required less food per unit of mass than Mus. Peromyscus and Mus differed in the magnitude and temporal dimensions of their locomotor effort however, both species often ran far more wheel revolutions than necessary to generate the number of food pellets eaten, except during lactation when females invested all of their wheel-running into obtaining food. Locomotor behaviour, food consumption and body weights were assessed continuously during pre-reproduction, pregnancy and lactation. Animals were subjected to one of several increasingly greater work requirements by using a caging system in which a food-pellet dispenser was controlled by wheel-running activity. If you suspect deer mice have been inside your home or another structure, please follow safe cleanup guidelines.Female deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus, and house mice, Mus domesticus=musculus, were challenged to reproduce while working for their food. All wild mice may cause food spoilage and damage to wiring or insulation of homes. Other species of wild mice may carry their own strains of hantavirus – most of which are not pathogenic to humans. Deer mice are the primary vector for hantavirus in western North America. There are many different species of wild mice several species can be found in San Mateo County. They are a staple prey item for many species. Young deer mice are able to reproduce when about 7 weeks old. They may rarely infest occupied homes in rural areas.ĭeer mice have 3-4 litters per year with an average of 4-6 pups per litter. They construct nests usually at the base of stumps, logs or brush piles but may infest vacant structures or seldom-used outbuildings. They are grayish to reddish brown and the tail is also strongly white on the underside.ĭeer mice are omnivores and eat a variety of plant matter and insects. The western deer mouse ( Peromyscus maniculatus) is native to California and distributed throughout wooded areas from Alaska down to central Mexico.ĭeer mice are a very similar size to house mice (2 to 3 inch long body with 2 to 3 inch long tail) but have broader faces, large eyes, and a striking white underbelly. A deer mouse's body is about 2 to 3 inches long, with a strikingly white belly.
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