deer mouse

noun

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Definition of deer mouse

: any of various mice (genus Peromyscus) of North and Central America; especially : one (P. maniculatus) widely distributed in forests and grasslands of North America

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Recent Examples of deer mouse from the Web

When hantavirus emerged in the Southwestern United States in 1993, for example, research using the museum’s collections showed that the disease was present in deer mice as far back as 1979.

— daniel fernandez, Smithsonian, "How Globalization Changed the Way We Fight Disease," 4 June 2018
According to the ABC10 News, Spencer Fry, who is a tour guide at Bodie State Park, claims he was exposed to the deadly respiratory sickness spread by deer mice droppings or saliva after spending the night at the popular ghost town destination.

— jessica leigh mattern, Country Living, "22-Year-Old Contracts Deadly Virus After Staying in State Park Cabin," 21 July 2017
As new vegetation takes root, deer mice, voles, shrews, and chipmunks move in for the harvest.

— brian payton, Smithsonian, "How Driftwood Reshapes Ecosystems," 9 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'deer mouse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.