Florida Mouse

Florida Mouse Summary

The Florida mouse is a nocturnal rodent of the family Cricetidae found in the United States in central Florida and within the panhandle. It is the only species in the genus Podomys and the only mammal native to Florida. The Florida mouse resides in some of the sparsest and dryest land of the state, in burrows dug by other animals, and lives on seeds and insects. It has orange coloring on its sides and cheeks and large eyes, and oversized furless ears.

Florida Mouse Facts

• Florida mice have a unique, skunk-like smell.
• It is the only mammal native to the state of Florida.
• To escape a predator, Florida mice can drop the skin off their tails.

Florida Mouse Scientific Name

The scientific name of the Florida mouse is Podomys floridanus, from the Greek pod, meaning “foot,” and mys, meaning “mouse,” which is a New Latin adaptation of the Greek. Floridanus refers to Florida, of course. It is the only species of the genus Podomys. It is a rodent from the family Cricetidae, which has 692 species, including muskrats, voles, hamsters, lemmings, rats, and mice.

Florida Mouse Appearance 

They are gray to brown on their top, orange patches on their cheeks and sides, and white underneath. Their tails are brown on top and white bottom. The ears are large and nearly furless, while their eyes are proportionally large. Their tails are approximately 80% of the length of their bodies. Florida mice have five pads on their hind feet, distinguishing them from cotton and oldfield mice, which have 6-7.

Florida Mouse Behavior

The Florida mouse is a nocturnal rodent. It forages at night, though it will avoid frigid nights. They can climb, but they prefer to remain on the ground. They live in burrows but do not make their own, choosing to inhabit the burrows of the gopher tortoise. If those are unavailable, they will use the burrows of other mouse species or armadillos. They do not hibernate because the temperature range in Florida is adequate for year-round feeding, mating, etc. When they get excited, they stamp their feet, making a thumping sound.

Florida Mouse Habitat

Only found in Florida, they like open upland areas with under 25% tree coverage, preferably longleaf pine or turkey oak with sparse ground cover. However, most populations are found in low coastal sandhills with dry vegetation, like scrub brush. These temperate grasslands and trees are typically burned naturally every 4-10 years, clearing the area and starting the undergrowth anew.

Florida Mouse Diet

They are omnivorous, primarily eating acorns, other nuts, and seeds but also crickets, grasshoppers, and soft-bodied ticks.

Florida Mouse Predators and Threats

They have several predators and threats. Some occur in the natural order of things, while others result from human development and environmental intervention. Natural predators include raccoons, snakes, raptors, red foxes, gray foxes, skunks, and bobcats. Lately, they have been at risk from invasive red fire ants.

Humans have added to this tapestry of threats by introducing domestic and feral cats and dogs. Also, to “protect” the Floridian countryside, we have initiated fire suppression plans that have allowed dense vegetation to increase, eliminating the sparse undergrowth that this rodent prefers. Agriculture and development have also contributed to this habitat disruption. Human disruption of the gopher tortoise population has resulted in the decrease of available burrows for them. Finally, the global impact of climate change can be felt here, with rising waters threatening these coastal populations.

Florida Mouse Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan

They reach sexual maturity between 36-42 days. Both sexes will mate with multiple partners more than once per year. Though they can mate at any time, peak mating season is from July through September, with a second peak in January-February. Females will typically have 1-2 litters per year.

After mating, the gestation period is approximately 23-24 days, after which the female will give birth to 2-4 pups in a leaf-lined nest in part of the burrow. The newborn pups are relatively helpless, and the female will nurse them constantly for the first two weeks and begin the weaning process, which ends after about their fourth week. They will begin to be independent adults, and the mother will start to force them from the burrow.

They have short lives in the wild, with an average lifespan of over four months. This is primarily due to predation and cannibalism within the nest (over 50%.) In captivity, Florida mice have lived for over seven years.

Florida Mouse Population

The IUCN Red List includes them as “Near Threatened.” This is better than a few years ago when it was listed as “Vulnerable.” The mouse is common throughout its territory, but accurate population numbers are unknown. The population estimates are in decline by about 30% over the last ten years. Its decline is rather dramatic in areas where specimens were regularly collected. It should be noted that, from about 1940-1981, 64% of dry upland habitat disappeared.