Usually, the deer mouse likes woodlands, but also turns up in desert areas. However, it is not found where the ground is continually wet.
Adults are usually solitary except during the mating periods.
In winter, the animals sometimes share nests and sleep together to get additional warmth. The back of deer mice come in a variety of colors, from gray to reddish brown, depending on its age. The underbelly is always white and the tail has sharply defined white sides. It weighs about 28 grams. The total length of the body from head to tail ranges from 11 to 20 cm.