Family: Muridae, Mice and Rats view all from this family

Description A large mouse. Brownish above; white below. Nearly naked, large hindfeet with 5 pads. Large ears. L 7 3/8--8 3/4" (186--221 mm); T 3 1/8 --3 3/4" (80--95 mm); HF 7/8 --1 1/8" (24--29 mm); Wt 7/8 --1 3/4 oz (25--49 g).

Similar Species All species of deer mice have 6 pads on hindfeet.

Breeding Breeding peaks July--December and January--February; several litters per year of 2--4 young.

Habitat High, sandy ridges with abundant blackjack and turkey oak; scrub palmetto.

Range Northern and e peninsular Florida; isolated population in Franklin County (in the panhandle).

Discussion The Florida or "Gopher" Mouse, the typical mouse of the driest Florida habitats, was previously in the genus Peromyscus. This omnivorous mouse feeds on seeds and nuts, as well as insects and other invertebrates. Almost exclusively a burrow dweller, it seldom makes its own burrows, usually using that of a gopher tortoise or a pocket gopher. These large burrows provide good protection from climatic changes and predators. The typical burrow nest is simpler than the surface nests of deer mice that live aboveground. It consists of a platform composed of leaves, Spanish moss, and occasionally some feathers. Preyed upon by most common predators in its habitat, the Florida Mouse is often seen with a short tail, presumably the result of a narrow escape from a would-be captor.