Illustration of white-footed mouse
white-footed mouse
noun
white-foot·ed mouse
ˈ(h)wīt-ˌfu̇-təd- 
: any of various largely nocturnal mice (genus Peromyscus) of North and Central America typically having whitish feet and underparts
especially
: a common woodland mouse (P. leucopus) of North America
Examples of white-footed mouse in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mourning doves and white-footed mice eat violet seeds.
—
Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2025
These comparisons have led some to believe — possibly incorrectly — that the white-footed mouse is also a reservoir for Powassan.
—Seth Roeser, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2025
Lyme disease is spread by Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacteria a tick acquires when feeding on white-footed mice.
—Seth Roeser, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2025
Lyme Disease Outbreaks Form A Puzzle With Many Pieces
The white-footed mouse, or Peromyscus leucopus, lies at the heart of the Lyme disease lifecycle.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Their Shocking Causes of Death Revealed by Authorities Hantavirus is an infectious disease that’s normally spread through contact with rodents such as deer mice, cotton rats, rice rats and the white-footed mouse.
—Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 8 Mar. 2025
Winter conditions could send house mice and white-footed mice indoors.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 25 Feb. 2025
In fact, the white-footed mouse is presumably the most numerous native mammal in our state.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2025
Vandegrift has speculated that mice might act as an intermediate host, but tests his team did of white-footed mice living near a research colony of deer infected with SARS‐CoV‑2 came back negative.
—Jon Cohen, science.org, 29 Apr. 2024
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Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2025
These comparisons have led some to believe — possibly incorrectly — that the white-footed mouse is also a reservoir for Powassan.
—Seth Roeser, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2025
Lyme disease is spread by Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacteria a tick acquires when feeding on white-footed mice.
—Seth Roeser, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2025
Lyme Disease Outbreaks Form A Puzzle With Many Pieces
The white-footed mouse, or Peromyscus leucopus, lies at the heart of the Lyme disease lifecycle.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Their Shocking Causes of Death Revealed by Authorities Hantavirus is an infectious disease that’s normally spread through contact with rodents such as deer mice, cotton rats, rice rats and the white-footed mouse.
—Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 8 Mar. 2025
Winter conditions could send house mice and white-footed mice indoors.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 25 Feb. 2025
In fact, the white-footed mouse is presumably the most numerous native mammal in our state.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2025
Vandegrift has speculated that mice might act as an intermediate host, but tests his team did of white-footed mice living near a research colony of deer infected with SARS‐CoV‑2 came back negative.
—Jon Cohen, science.org, 29 Apr. 2024
Cite this Entry
“White-footed mouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white-footed%20mouse. Accessed 12 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
white-footed mouse
noun
white-foot·ed mouse
ˌ(h)wīt-ˌfu̇t-əd-
: a common woodland mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) that has whitish feet and underparts and that is a reservoir for the spirochete of the genus Borrelia (B. burgdorferi) causing Lyme disease
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