SAGEBRUSH WHITE-FOOTED MOUSE
Peromyscus maniculatus artemisiae
The White-footed Mouse, Deer Mouse, or Vesper Mouse is an interesting little animal, a member of a very large and widely distributed genus whose members are generally the most common small animal of any given region. They are clean little creatures with large bright eyes, large ears, and tails about as long as their bodies, with gray or brown upperparts and white feet and lower parts.
These mice are found throughout the forests, among rocks, in meadows and open grassy places, living in burrows, among rocks, or in hollow trees and logs and they frequently come into camps and houses. They are expert climbers and will readily take refuge in trees as well as into burrows if the occasion warrants.
White-footed mice depend upon seeds and grains, small nuts and dry vegetable matter for their food rather than green vegetation like the meadow mice, and are rarely carnivorous.
They may have three or four litters of 3 to 7 young each year and so are able to keep pace with the activities of their enemies which include all of the smaller carnivorous animals and the owls.
General description: Upper parts, pale cinnamon to brownish fawn, more dusky along mid-back; underparts and feet white. Total length 6 to 7½ inches with the tail being one-third to one-half of the total length.
White-footed Mouse
Where found: It is possible to find them almost anywhere in the park but since they are nocturnal they are rarely seen in the daytime.