The deer mouse and the house mouse are roughly the same size, but most people think the deer mouse is “cuter” with its large eyes and ears and two-tone fur. House mice have uniformly gray fur, while deer mice have white feet and undersides with brown upper bodies. Unlike the house mouse, the deer mouse has two-tone coloring. If you have determined that you have a mouse and not a rat and are not sure whether it’s a deer mouse or a house mouse, then there are a few key things to look for. The eyes of a deer mouse are comparatively larger than those of a house mouse. The deer mouse ranges from grey to reddish brown, depending on age. To help you with rodent identification and removal, our Maryland rodent control team has put together this guide. Everyone who lives near the woods gets mice. A deer mouse will hoard stolen crumbs and seeds near its nest, but this behavior is less common for a house mouse. Deer Mouse vs House Mouse Behavior Both species come inside for food and shelter, but deer mice are much less frequent home invaders. The darker colors are found on the back (dorsal side) of the mouse, while the abdomen and limbs are white. Deer mice also use staring and mutual grooming to relay messages to fellow mice. Two of the most common types of mice here in Maryland are deer mice and house mice. Another difference between house mice and field mice is the way they store their food. However, we don't get the same mice that one gets in the city. Habitat. Deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus, tend to be sort of “deer-colored,” a tawny brown which can tend towards gray, while house mice are mostly gray. That seems to have changed somewhat. House mice, roof rats, Norway rats or ground squirrels are not known to transmit hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) to people. Deer mice also have larger eyes and ears. Behavioral Differences. It gets its name because its coloration resembles that of the white-tailed deer — gray or tawny brown above and white below. Deer Mice vs House Mice. Deer mouse tails are also dark on top and light underneath, while house mice have almost hairless tails. Read these tips on how you can identify which one is which. Preferring to live in grassy areas outdoors, these pests are most likely to enter houses close to fields and parks during the fall. While these two creatures are similar in size, there are many large differences between them. They have always either been white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) or deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus). Do You Know the Difference Between… House Mouse vs. The deer mouse is in a totally different family than the house mouse. The mice use vocal signals to communicate and may also give off chemicals to warn other mice. Unlike house mice, deer mice prefer to live outdoors in forests, grasslands, or farms. Other than I know that the… Our professionals will safely get rid of the problem. Let’s get started. Two of the most common species of mice in the United States are the House Mouse (Mus musculus) and the Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus). Complaints of deer mice used to be limited to cabins, or rural or semi-rural homes. The deer mouse has bigger ears and eyes, but it also has fur that contains two shades of color. If you have a mouse infestation in your home, contact Whitworth Pest Solutions. It’s true that we think of deer mice as mostly outdoor mice while house mice are the ones we expect to find in our homes. The deer mouse is found throughout most of Canada and the United States, with the exception of the Southeastern United States. Let’s take a look at the House Mouse vs Deer Mouse differences so you can tell […] Deer Mouse vs. House Mouse Droppings The male deer mouse often cares for the older offspring while the female is giving birth. In fact, it is believed that up to 95% of […] Besides the basic color though, deer mice, like deer, are white below. Deer mice commonly get into homes now, especially in the fall. The deer mouse and house mouse are basically the same size, but the deer mouse has large eyes and ears, and resembles the white tail deer in color. I don't think we've ever had a house mouse (Mus musculus) in the house. The most obvious difference between the two mice is in coloration.