Nature Bulletin No. 53   February 16, 1946
Forest Preserve District of Cook County
Clayton F. Smith, President
Roberts Mann, Superintendent of Conservation

****:KANGAROO MICE AND DEER

The kangaroo mouse, or jumping mouse, is not common here and is 
rarely seen. It has a very long slender tapering tail, tiny ears, short 
forelegs, and greatly elongated hind legs which enable it to travel in 
long leaps. The underparts and feet are white; the upperparts yellow-
brown, with a dark stripe down the back.

The kangaroo mouse lives in open fields, as does the vole (or meadow 
mouse), but not in low, moist ground. They have the same enemies and 
about the same food habits. Neither sings.

The deer mouse, or white-footed mouse, differs from the vole in having 
a hairy tail as long as its body, large "bug" eyes, large ears, dark brown 
upperparts, with white underparts and feet. Further, it is strictly 
nocturnal, frequently nests in shrubs and trees, and eats dry vegetable 
food such as seeds, grains and small nuts; whereas the vole prefers 
green food. Therefore, deer mice are not such an economic problem. 
They are not 80 prolific. Being nocturnal, they have fewer enemies.

Some sub-species live in open country but others nest in fallen logs, 
rock piles, or in shrubs and low trees where they may live in old bird 
nests or build a small ball of leaves. They are gentle, tame quickly, and 
make good pets. Rarely, one may be found that will not only squeak, 
but can "sing" in a fine high-pitched trill, higher and more staccato than 
that of a canary.

One of our naturalists caught a deer mouse the other day, one of a pair 
with a nest beneath the sloping door covering the outside entrance to 
the basement of his home. He stroked it and it was quiet. As an 
experiment, he tossed it onto the snow In front of his cocker spaniel. 
The dog, trained to retrieve birds, tossed it in the air. The mouse 
dropped back on the snow unhurt. Instead of running, it reared up on its 
hind legs, bared its teeth, and made rapid boxing motions with its front 
paws at the barking dog.

MOUSE FIGHTS DOG!