The Difference Between White Footed Mice & Deer Mice
White-Footed Mouse vs Deer Mouse
White-footed mice and deer mice are among the most common species of mice, and they are pretty similar in appearance, making them hard to identify. Like most other small mammals that enter homes as the weather gets colder, these mice are looking for a warm place to nest, food, and water.
When finding mice in the house, a reasonable reaction to whether they’re deer mice or white-footed mice might be, “Who cares so long as they’re gone?!” But identifying the species of mouse in your home matters more than you realize. Different species carry different risks, mean different things about your landscape, and respond to different methods of eradication. Knowing your species is directly linked to your health, home safety, and future prevention strategies.
Critter Control has over 40 years of experience accurately identifying mouse species so that you don’t have to. Our highly trained wildlife technicians have a humane and safe m
How to Tell White-Footed Mice and Deer Mice Apart
As a mouse goes whizzing past you, it’s hard for homeowners to discern one species from another, especially in your attic or basement, where lighting is poor. And misidentification can delay their eradication, exposing you to health risks and costly damage in the process.
Physical Differences
Both species get their name from their coloring. Deer mice have deer-like brown and white fur, while white-footed mice take their name from the hue of their paws. Unfortunately, these names don’t help with identification: deer mice have white feet, and white-footed mice are also brown and white.
A closer look reveals subtle differences in appearance between the white-footed mouse and the deer mouse. A deer mouse has small legs and a sharp color contrast between the top and bottom of its tail. A white-footed mouse has larger hind legs and a bicolored tail with less definition between the two hues. Still, it may take an expert to tell these mice apart.
Behavioral Differences
The answer to the question “Where are deer mice found?” is that they can be found all over the country. They live equally well in grasslands, deserts, alpine areas, and forests. The white-footed mouse lives in the eastern and central U.S., mostly in forested and bushy areas.
Deer mice and white-footed mice behave differently, and these differences help identify nests and develop exclusion solutions that reduce the risk of future infestations. The behavioral differences provide clues about which species is living in your home, making it easier than identifying them by their coloring alone.
The white-footed mouse tends to occupy homes year-round, while deer mice use homes during colder seasons and leave for outside living in warmer weather. Because white-footed mice are agile climbers, they are most often found nesting in attics. Deer mice stay closer to the outdoors and will winter over in sheds, basements, crawlspaces, and even cars.
Disease risks vary according to species as well. White-footed mice are carriers of Lyme disease as ticks feed on them. Deer mice are primary carriers of hantavirus, a serious illness spread by their droppings, urine, and nesting materials.
Problems Caused by Both Species
Both species enter homes in search of a place to nest that’s out of the cold and safe from predators. In the process, they create costly damage for homeowners:
- Gnawing on walls, beams, and electrical wires
- Contaminating insulation and food with mouse droppings and saliva
- Ruining stored goods
- Chewing on furniture and upholstery
- Deer mice are hosts to hantavirus, a dangerous illness that spreads through rodent waste.
- White-footed mice may also transmit the illness, but are more likely to pass Lyme disease to people.
How to Keep White-Footed Mice & Deer Mice Out of Your Home
The exclusion process is the same for white-footed mouse vs. deer mouse infestations. Sanitation and proper food storage go a long way towards deterring rodents. To reduce entry points, residents can seal holes in their home’s exterior, especially where utility pipes meet the walls, as well as gaps around windows and doors.
Because of the diseases these pests can carry, the safest way to remove an infestation is to seek professional help. The trained specialists at Critter Control can determine whether the problem is white-footed mice or deer mice and create a custom control plan.
Critter Control’s Step-by-Step Process
Critter Control has perfected the art and science of mouse control. Whether white-footed or deer mice, our proven step-by-step process to eliminate mice problems includes:
- Thorough inspection inside and outside of your home to identify the species and to look for yard modifications that might attract fewer mice.
- Species identification enables Critter Control specialists to locate mouse nests more quickly and develop an elimination plan.
- Removal plan that is safe, humane, and most effective for your specific situation.
- Sanitization and clean up of mouse nesting areas and travel routes to eliminate health risks to you and your family.
- Exclusion and long-term prevention are key to preventing reinfestations and include sealing gaps around the house, decluttering, storage solutions for food and personal items, and yard maintenance to eliminate outdoor hiding places and seasonal food sources, such as garden vegetables and pet food.
Whether you have signs of mice in your home or want to stop a problem before it happens, contact Critter Control for a free inspection. You will enjoy peace of mind knowing only you, your family, and your pets are living there.