House Mice And Deer Mice: What's The Difference?

Physical traits

Coloring is one of the areas where you can easily see each type’s uniqueness. A house mouse possesses a sharp nose accompanied by small spherical ears and a long, hair-free tail and comes in a wide, solid color range, including tan, brown, black, grey, and rare cases white. Deer mice bodies are grey or brownish-orange accompanied by white underside (its most noticeable physical trait) and white feet. Their tails are usually shorter and covered with fine hairs.

The short stature of house mice vs deer mice is also a good indicator of which mouse you might be facing. In length, House mice are approximately five inches from the nose to the tail. A deer mouse is around seven inches.

Feeding habits

House mice vs deer mice are opportunists, taking advantage of any food sources that arise. They will gather and search for food in homes and eat whatever is available; grains, clothes, and plastic pieces. Deer mice are gatherers. They will collect food and stock it for future use. This adaptation makes it very difficult to lure deer mice into traps compared to more easily controlling house mice.

Movement patterns

When it comes to movement behaviors, the award for best jumper goes to the house mice vs deer mice. House mice have a 12 inch vertical jump. Deer mice, on the other hand, are good climbers. They can access food sources and shelter by ascending over a tree and using the tree branches as a transitional path, or by climbing gutters and water pipes to gain access to the roofs.

Disease carriers

The type of diseases carried by house mice vs deer mice are distinct. House mice are linked to the spread of lymphocyte related meningitis and rickettsial pox. Deer mice are major carriers of Hantavirus. This virus is found in the saliva, urine, and feces of mice. It is spread to humans mostly via inhalation of airborne particles.

Both of these mice are capable of ferrying fleas, lice, and other organisms in their hairy bodies, but deer mice are more predisposed to it because of their outdoorsy movements.

Both of these can propagate disease-causing bacteria, but they do vary. House mice vs deer mice are generally found indoors and cover a larger surface area, they can disseminate disease-causing organisms in wider places compared to the deer mice. But deer mice frequent outside garbage pits, trash cans, and other outdoor areas, making them likely to bring filth and other debris indoors.