Western deer mice reported in Utah favor a mix of high forest and lake-edge habitat, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest carrying the bulk of records with smaller counts from Zion National Park, Antelope Island State Park, and Manti-La Sal National Forest. That spread fits a mouse equally willing to den on a rocky forest slope or a shrubby island shoreline.
Of Utah’s 91 records, iNaturalist photos slightly outnumber GBIF specimen data, an unusual split for a small nocturnal rodent that suggests real photographic effort here rather than only trapping surveys. Sightings run year-round but peak in April, with 22 logged that month, more than double any other.
This population is classified as native in Utah, with no NatureServe rank currently assigned, likely because its wide range across forest and desert habitats alike makes it a lower priority for formal state assessment than more range-restricted species.
Full species profile
