Are there deer mice in Indiana?
Deer Mice in Illinois and Indiana Most often found outdoors in rural areas, deer mice rarely invade residential properties. These rodents are a common problem in agricultural areas, and will sometimes look for shelter in homes over winter.
Is hantavirus common in Indiana?
An adult male from Carroll County was diagnosed with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in June of 1999. Indiana has recorded only one other case since the disease was recognized.
Do all deer mice carry the hantavirus?
In North America, they are the deer mouse, the white-footed mouse, the rice rat, and the cotton rat. However, not every deer mouse, white-footed mouse, rice rat, or cotton rat carries a hantavirus. Other rodents, such as house mice, roof rats, and Norway rats, have never been known to give people HPS.
Do deer mice infest houses?
Deer mice are attracted to homes with plenty of vegetation and protective sites with piles of rocks or firewood in the yard. These pests may sneak into cabins and barns as well as homes in residential suburban and rural areas when cold weather hits.
How can you tell a deer mouse from a mouse?
A house mouse has a pointed nose, beady black or pink eyes, small rounded ears, and a long, hairless tail, and comes in variety of colors: tan, brown, black, grey, and white. Deer mice are grey or tawny brown with a white underbelly and white feet. Its tail is short and covered with fine hairs.
What does a deer mouse look like?
A deer mouse has a gray or tawny brown coat, a pointed nose, rounded ears, and large black eyes. Their bodies are two to three inches in length, and their tails are dark on top and pale on the bottom. The pests’ white underbellies, pink paws, and short forelimbs also make them easy to identify.
How long does it take for you to know if you have hantavirus?
It takes about one to five weeks (incubation period) for the signs and symptoms of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome to begin. About 38% of hantavirus infections are fatal (mortality rate). Lung capillaries leak fluid into the lung tissue, which causes hantavirus.
How do you identify a deer mouse?
Deer mice are named for their fur’s striking similarity to the coloration of deer fur. Their grayish-brown bodies gradually whiten at the belly and legs. The most telling characteristic is their bicolored tail which is dark and bottom is light. Many people refer to deer mice as “field mice.”
How can you tell if you have a deer mouse?
House mice are light brown or gray, and their coats are a solid color. On the other hand, deer mice have brown or tan fur with white bellies, legs, and feet. Deer mouse tails are also dark on top and light underneath, while house mice have almost hairless tails.
Are deer mice common in rural areas?
They are common in rural areas all across the United States and are similar in appearance to common house mice, with which they are often confused. Deer mice are responsible for causing structural damage, thwarting crop and orchard seeding efforts, contaminating food sources, and spreading harmful diseases.
Why is the deer mouse a medically important species?
The deer mouse is a medically important species because it carries Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). This virus can result in serious, often fatal, respiratory disease in humans. Cases of hantavirus are rare – only about 300-400 cases have been documented in the past nine years, and most have been in the Western United States.
Is the Indian spotted chevrotain the same as the mouse deer?
The Indian Spotted Chevrotain ( Moschiola meminna) is often referred to as the Mouse Deer. However in recent times, Indian Spotted Chevrotain seems to be the preferred usage.
What is the difference between house mice and deer mice?
Behavior: Unlike the house mouse, the deer mouse is not found in cities, but is associated more with rural areas and buildings located in or near wooded areas. It does not commonly invade homes, but in rare instances one or more deer mice may invade a particular building.