Deer Mice Facts & Information

What Orkin Does

Your local Orkin Pro is trained to help manage deer mice and similar pests. Since every building or home is different, your Orkin Pro will design a unique rodent treatment program for your situation.

Orkin can provide the right solution to keep deer mice in their place and out of your home or business.

Appearance

• Size: They are round and slender, ranging from 7 to 10 cm long in body length.

• Head: Deer mice have a pointed nose and large, black beady eyes. Their ears are large with little fur covering them.

• Color: Their bodies are bicolored with a light brownish-reddish top and white underbelly and feet.

• Tail: These pests have short tails, distinctly bicolored (dark on top and light on bottom), and covered with short, fine hairs and can be 5 to 13 cm in length.

Diet

Deer mice are primarily herbivorous, but will also consume other things. These rodents prefer to eat:

• Seeds

• Nuts

• Small fruits and berries

• Insects

Habitat

Deer mice are most commonly associated with prairies or other bushy, wooded areas. These pests prefer areas with tall grass or brush for cover, particularly in woodlands and grasslands.

In winter, deer mice enter domestic spaces in search of food and warmth. Although they become sluggish during cold months, deer mice do not hibernate. These pests can be found living in:

• Attics

• Basements

• Crawl spaces

• Garages

• Hollow logs

• Sheds

• Tree holes

Nests

Deer mice hoard food supplies and actively forage for food near their nesting sites. Their nests are constructed of:

• Fur

• Paper

• Seeds

• Weeds

Reproduction

Deer mice live an average of two to 24 months, but can live as long as eight years in captivity. They reach sexual maturity in about 7 to 8 weeks. They produce two to four litters a year, usually during warm months. Typical litters contain three to five individuals, but may have as many as eight.

More Information

How to Get Rid of Deer Mice

Deer Mouse Droppings

What Do Deer Mice Look Like?