Route choice by deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus): Reducing the risk of auditory detection by predators

The influence of predation risk on microhabitat selection in male adult dee r mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) was examined using an enclosure experiment. The relative amount of time spent by the deer mice on coniferous leaf litt er, hardwood leaf litter and logs was measured. Mice preferred dry conifero us litter over dry hardwood litter, but had no preference when both litter types were wet. Deer mice traveled more along logs placed on hardwood litte r than on coniferous litter. Nocturnal mammalian and arian predators of dee r mice often use sound to locate their prey, and mice rustling in hardwood leaf litter should be more easily detected. Therefore, deer mice restrict t heir movements to routes that reduce the risk of auditory detection by pred ators.