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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
are structural pests in
rural, summer/vacation, outbuilding, and shed-type structures, as well as suburban homes located in or near wooded areas.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
They are of medical concern because they are the primary carriers of
hantavirus which causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS).
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
_, pale grayish buff to deep reddish brown above and white below.
Bicolored
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
Hind feet with NUMBER pads each.
6 pads each
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
the characteristic of being _ will easily separate them from the house mouse
bicolored with hairy tail
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
Females usually have YOUNG TO YOUNG
3-5 young per litter (range 1-8).
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
There are LITTER TO LITTER per year with the surge of reproduction occurring in the spring.
2-4 litters per year
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
They reach sexual maturity at WEEKS TO WEEKS of age.
7-8 weeks of age.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
Hantavirus is transmitted primarily by the inhalation of
dust particles contaminated with the urine, feces, or saliva from infected deer mice.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
Hantaviruses have been shown to remain viable in the environment for DAYS TO DAYS at normal room temperature, but for a longer time at
- 2-3 days at normal room temperature
- freezing temperatures
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
Hantavirus... destroyed by the
UV rays of sunlight.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
Deer mice are
nocturnal.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
Their runways are
poorly defined and they often use the runways of other small mammals.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
They are excellent
climbers and can utilize the upper areas of buildings, etc.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
Outside, they nest in
old fence posts, tree hollows/cavities, log piles, abandoned bird/squirrel nests and animal burrows, beneath decks, or dig small burrows.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
Inside, they nest in
storage boxes, stuffed furniture, cabinet drawers, wall voids, on sill plates, in structural corners, and tight places in basements and attics.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
Deer mice have two feeding peaks, at
dawn and at dusk.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
They feed on
insects, seeds, nuts, berries, small fruits, a subterranean fungus (Endogone), and other small animals such as centipedes, snails, slugs, dead mice, and young birds.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
Food is stored for the winter in
hollow logs and other protected places.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
It is common for deer mice to abandon and never use a
food store.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
During the colder months, they frequently enter
homes, garages, sheds, and occasionally stored RVs and other infrequently used vehicles.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
They may damage
food stuffs and furnishings.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
In unoccupied summer and vacation homes, they damage
upholstered furniture which they use for nests or nesting materials
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
Deer mice are rarely a problem in urban or residential areas unless the homes border on.
wooded areas, such as parks.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
They are common in
farming/rural areas and rustic suburban areas.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
If deer mice are already in an occupied structure, they can easily be controlled via
baited snap traps placed in corners, along walls, and behind objects; their droppings will indicated where traps should be placed.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
Virtually any technique used for
house mouse control will work.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
In unoccupied structures rodenticide baits work well but
only a few are labeled for deer mice.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
is the best control method.
Exclusion
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
Seal all entry holes with 1/8" (3 mm) hardware cloth. Pay particular attention to any hole that is about the diameter of a
pencil.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
If the structure has deteriorated due to lack of maintenance and/or age such that exclusion is impractical, then consider
trapping the deer mice on the outside perimeter to reduce the probability of invasion.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
To reduce structural attractiveness, store bird seed and dry pet foods in areas other than the
garage or storage sheds.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
Wear a respirator equipped with
HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters when working with rodent traps, in confined areas with urine and/or droppings, or with dead mice.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
Wear rubber or plastic gloves when handling mice or traps; these should be
disinfected before removal.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
Disinfect traps contaminated by mouse urine or droppings or in which a mouse was captured; use a
commercial disinfectant or diluted bleach (3 tablespoons/gal water).
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Treat dead mice with a
disinfectant before handling and/or use the inverted bag technique (turn bag inside out and use as a glove, pick up the mouse and while holding on to the mouse, turn the bag right-side out again, and seal the bag).
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
Disinfect any droppings before removal; vacuums (even with HEPA filters) are not recommended because
the air they blow may create aerosols.
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DEER MOUSE FIELD GUIDE
If febrile (feverishness) or respiratory illness develops within DAYS of potential exposure, seek immediate medical attention and inform the attending physician of the occupational risk.
45 days
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