Ratón ciervo (deer mouse)

Description:

A small, white-footed mouse with sharply bicolor tail, white beneath and dark above; ears usually shorter than hind foot, prominent and leaflike; upperparts bright fulvous or brownish, intermixed with dusky; underparts and feet white. External measurements average: total length, 170 mm; tail, 81 mm; hind foot, 20 mm; ear, 18 (12-20) mm. Weight, 15-32 g.

Habitat:

These mice occupy a variety of habitats, ranging from mixed forests to grasslands to open, sparsely vegetated deserts. In Texas, they usually inhabit grasslands or areas of open brush, especially where weeds and grasses offer concealment and a source of food. Weed-choked fence rows and washes offer almost ideal habitat. Mice of this group seem to be poor climbers and live close to or on the ground.

Notes:

These mice are often abundant in favorable habitats and then, as with other animals that overpopulate an area, they may become troublesome. Because of their tolerance to a wide variety of habitat conditions and their often large population they are difficult and expensive to control. Since they are an important source of food for many small carnivores, owls, and snakes, the assistance of these animals should be enlisted in keeping the populations of mice within bounds.