White-footed mice are common residents of woodlands from southeastern Canada to Mexico and throughout the eastern 2/3 of the U.S. (with the exception of Florida). They inhabit forests, open woodlands and, on the Great Plains, riparian corridors. Omnivorous, these mice feed on a wide variety of nuts, seeds, fruits, fungi and insects; they are agile climbers and often forage in shrubs and trees.
White-footed mice mate throughout the year and females may produce five or more litters, each with up to five young. Nests are generally placed in hollow logs, wood piles, abandoned burrows or beneath outbuildings; old bird or squirrel nests and abandoned tree cavities may also be used. The young are independent by one month of age and female offspring are capable of breeding within five months of birth. Predators, including hawks, owls, fox, weasels, coyotes, skunks and snakes, serve to keep the population of these prolific rodents in check and the natural lifespan of a white-footed mice is generally less than two years.
While this mouse is a vital component of woodland ecosystems, it is known to be a vector for hantavirus and Lyme disease and close contact with the animals, their nest or their droppings should be avoided; as with all wildlife, it is best to view them from a safe and nonthreatening distance. Since white-footed mice are primarily nocturnal, observation efforts are most productive at dawn or dusk.
