Florida Mouse
The Florida deer mouse lives only in the state of Florida as the name implies. The mouse is found in the southern and central regions of Florida, extending to northern peninsular Florida. This mouse inhabits high, dry sandy ridges where black-jack oak, turkey oak, and scrub palmetto are abundant.
Florida mouse
The color of the fur on the back ranges from a yellowish to light brown. The belly fur and underparts are white (Booth 1971). The ears are naked and relatively large. The feet are also exceptionally large for the size of the mouse. The hind feet average 26 mm. The feet have five pads where other deer mice have six. The body length of an adult Florida deer mouse ranges from 186mm to 221mm. The tail length ranges from 80mm to 100mm.
Reproduction
No reliable information available.
Behavior
This mouse emits shrills and high pitched squeaks. When excited, Podomys floridanus thump the ground rapidly, producing a drumming noise with their front feet (Walker 1968). The mouse is primarily nocturnal resting in its nest during the day and venturing out at night to search for food. The Florida Mouse is almost exclusively a burrow dweller. It sometimes uses the burrow of the Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus). The burrow consists of a platform composed of leaves and Spanish moss.
Food Habits
Diet includes seeds, nuts, berries, fruits, insects, and other invertebrates. In captivity they should be offered a complete diet of rodent lab blocks, and rat or mouse mix, with bits of fruit or veggies regularly. Cheerios or wheat bread are great treats, in small quantities. Do NOT feed chocolate, fried foods, salted foods, candy or junk food! They may enjoy crickets and mealworms if they are captive bred, never feed wild insects as they may carry parasites. Vitamins, like Nutri-Cal are a good addition to their diet, and added calcium during nursing and growth due to demands on their systems at those times, but take care not to overdo it. Water bottles should be used to proved constant, clean water. Ceramic or stoneware food dishes work well for keeping seeds or fresh foods off the floor, and a wire mesh hopper that allows them to eat the lab blocks through without extra waste.
