HABITAT USE AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE MICE PEROMYSCUS-LEUCOPUS AND P-MANICULATUS ON MOUNT-DESERT-ISLAND, MAINE

We studied habitat use and distribution of Peromyscus leucopus (White- footed Mouse) and P. maniculatus (Deer Mouse) on Mount Desert Island, Maine, Peromyscus leucopus used areas dominated by deciduous vegetatio n whereas P. maniculatus was more of a habitat generalist occurring eq ually in deciduous and coniferous habitats. Extent of overlap of these two species does not support an hypothesis of interspecific interacti ons; P. leucopus appears limited solely by habitat. Peromyscus leucopu s and P. maniculatus have been identified as important components in t he transmission cycle of Lyme disease which has been documented from a small section of Mount Desert Island. Land management practices that increase suitable habitat and influence population densities of P. leu copus, the primary host for the Lyme disease spirochete, may locally i ncrease the incidence of this disease.