Pinyon mouse
Pinyon mouse (Peromyscus truei) is a medium-sized rodent in the deer mouse family that lives in the southwestern United States and in Baja California, Mexico. Its range stretches from southern Oregon and Wyoming in the north to the U.S.–Mexico border in the south, with a separate population near Palo Duro Canyon in Texas.
This mouse has relatively large ears and fur that can be pale yellow-brown to brown-black, with lighter feet. It looks similar to the white-footed mouse but has bigger ears, a longer, more furred tail, and a larger skull.
Pinyon mice use a variety of habitats, especially rocky slopes and pinyon–juniper woodlands, but they also live in deserts, forests, and grassy plains. In males, home ranges can be up to about 2.9 hectares. They are adaptable to different climates and elevations; in burned areas they tend to stay near the edges rather than moving into the burned zones.
Their diet includes fruit, grain, and seeds, but they will also eat insects, spiders, and other invertebrates. In winter they mainly eat juniper seeds and berries, and in summer they eat acorns. They are known for caching food around their dens, creating extensive networks. They can survive with very little water, which helps in dry habitats.
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN). NatureServe regards them as secure.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 06:15 (CET).