Deer Mice, White-Footed Mice, and their Relatives

Peromyscus are myomorph rodents belonging to the family of Cricetidae and to the subfamily Neotominae. Neotominae comprises 16 genera of New World cricetid rodents including deer mice, woodrats, and their relatives. The white-footed mouse is the most commonly used in research. This chapter primarily describes the physical attributes, geographical habitat, lifespan, and uses in research of deer mice and white footed-mice. The chapter studies the infectious, bacterial, and viral diseases of deer mice. Despite their common names, deer mice and white-footed mice are not closely related to common laboratory mice of the genus Mus, or to laboratory rats (Rattus). Several inhalant and injectable anesthetic regimens have been used successfully in Peromyscus.