Florida Envirothon - Wildlife: Cotton Mouse

What does a cotton mouse look like?

A medium-size, heavy-bodied, white-footed mouse with a brown back and creamy white underparts.

Where can the cotton mouse be found?

Throughout Florida, with subspecies like the Key Largo cotton mouse and Key Largo wood rat in the Key Largo.

Where do cotton mice live?

Cotton mice are typically woodland dwellers and occur along water courses where stumps, downed logs, and tangles of brush and vines offer suitable retreats. Frequently, they are in woodland areas which border open fields and may also move into an old barn or a house. They are good swimmers as well as climbers.

What do domesticated cotton mouse eat?

Small grains and seeds and eat greens

When is the cotton mouse breeding season?

It’s long, lasting from late August to early May

How big are cotton mouse litter sizes?

Average 3-4

How many litters may a female cotton mouse have?

4 or more a year

What do newborn cotton mice look like?

Naked and blind

When do newborn cotton mice ears open? W?hen do their ears erupt

5-6 days

When do newborn cotton mice eyes open? When do they eat solid foods?

13 days

When are newborn cotton mice weaned?

20-25 days

What makes the cotton mouse different from the Florida mouse?

It has six tubercles on each rear foot which helps to distinguish it from the Florida mouse, which only has five tubercles.