Cotton Mouse
Peromyscus gossypinus
A native woodland mouse with large eyes, white feet, and a pale belly that sometimes enters sheds or garages.
Cotton Mice occur through most of Florida in hammocks, pine woods, swamps, scrub, and brushy residential edges. They shelter in logs, burrows, tree cavities, and abandoned animal nests.
These nocturnal mice eat both plant and animal foods and serve as prey for owls, snakes, and small carnivores. Seal structures and remove spilled seed to prevent indoor conflicts.
Habitat:
Freshwater Wetlands, Pine Flatwoods and Sandhills, Scrub and Dry Prairie, Forests and Woodlands, Urban and Residential Areas
Area / Range:
Statewide
Diet:
Eats seeds, nuts, berries, fungi, insects, spiders, snails, and other small invertebrates.
Behavior:
Nocturnal and agile, it climbs, swims, and forages through leaf litter. Individuals use sheltered nests and may cache food in protected spaces.
Nighttime, Dawn and Dusk
Active Times:
Best time to see:
After dark near wooded edges, though tracks and seed remains are more often noticed than the mouse itself.
Florida Native Status:
Native
Conservation Status:
Least Concern overall; the Key Largo cotton mouse subspecies is federally endangered.
Safety Level:
Moderate
Safety Information:
Avoid direct handling and contact with droppings. Ventilate enclosed areas and use wet-cleaning methods with gloves instead of sweeping dry waste.
Benefits to Property:
Disperses seeds and fungi, consumes insects, and supports native predators within healthy wooded food webs.
Property Concerns:
May enter garages, sheds, crawl spaces, or stored materials. Seal gaps, store seed securely, and use exclusion-focused pest management.
Fun Fact:
- It is a capable climber and swimmer.
- The Key Largo form survives only in limited habitat.
- It uses hollow logs and old animal burrows for shelter.
Wildlife Laws:
The species is native, and the Key Largo cotton mouse receives federal Endangered Species Act protection. Do not trap or disturb mice in protected habitat without proper guidance.
Identification:
Medium-sized native mouse with brown to gray-brown upperparts, sharply paler belly, white feet, large dark eyes, rounded ears, and a two-toned tail. It resembles the white-footed mouse and is difficult to confirm without expert examination.