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Range maps for mice, rats, lemmings, and voles

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This page provides range maps for all species in the United States of America that are commonly referred to as rats, mice, lemmings, and voles, which includes four families — Cricetidae, Heteromyidae, Muridae, and Zapodidae. The range maps for these families of mouse-like species are grouped together for functional convenience. These are small mammals which may be easily confused with one another and we feel that presenting all of the range maps here may be helpful to users attempting to identifying a species based on range.

Before using species range maps for any purpose, we urge you to exercise caution and be aware of potential limitations and challenges associated with their interpretation. While we have made efforts to create the most up-to-date range maps by synthesizing diverse data sources, including historical published range maps, occurrence data from natural history specimens, field guides, peer-reviewed published research, and personal communication with experts, these data may have varying degrees of accuracy and reliability, leading to potential inaccuracies and gaps in the representation of a species' distribution. For some species, data may be scarce or biased toward easily accessible areas, resulting in incomplete representation of their true range. Taxonomic revisions can affect species identification and may not be immediately reflected in range maps, potentially leading to misinterpretation. Exercise prudence in the application of these maps and acknowledge their limitations to make informed decisions for conservation, research, species identification, and project planning.

Family Cricetidae

Alexandromys oeconomus (Root Vole)

Arborimus (tree voles)

Baiomys taylori (Northern Pygmy Mouse)

Clethrionomys (=Myodes) (red-backed voles)

Dicrostonyx (collared lemmings)

Lemmiscus curtatus (Sagebrush Vole)

Lemmus (true lemmings)

  • Beringian Brown Lemming (Lemmus nigripes). Range in North America based on Spitsyn et al. (2021).
  • Nearctic Brown Lemming (Lemmus trimucronatus). Range based on Spitsyn et al. (2021)

Microtus (meadow voles)

Mictomys borealis (Northern Bog Lemming)

  • Northern Bog Lemming (Mictomys borealis). Moved from Synaptomys to Mictomys by Hope et al. (2023).

Neotoma (pack rats, wood rats)

Phenacomys (heather voles)

Ochrotomys nuttalli (Golden Mouse)

Onychomys (grasshopper mice)

Oryzomys (marsh rice rats)

Peromyscus (deer mice)

Podomys floridanus (Florida Mouse)

Reithrodontomys (harvest mice)

Sigmodon (cotton rats)

Synaptomys cooperi (Southern Bog Lemming)

Family Heteromyidae

Chaetodipus and Perognathus (pocket mice)

Dipodomys (kangaroo rats)

Heteromys irroratus (spiny pocket mouse)

Microdipodops (kangaroo mice)

Family Muridae

  • House mouse (Mus musculus). Approximate range shown for North America only.
  • Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus). Approximate range shown for North America only.
  • Roof Rat (Rattus rattus). Approximate range shown for North America only.

Family Zapodidae (jumping mice)

Napaeozapus (woodland jumping mice)

Genetic analyses by Malaney et al. (2017) recognized 2 species within Napaeozapus, where previous morphology-based studies had recognized only one species. The work of Malaney et al. (2017) has importantly exposed cryptic diversity and a putative new species within Napaeozapus, but further studies will be needed to fully understand new species boundaries and morphological variation

  • Former range of Napaeozapus insignis, based on a systematic revision by Wrigley (1972).
  • Western Woodland Jumping Mouse (Napaeozapus abietorum). Split from Napaeozapus insignis by Malaney et al. (2017).
  • Eastern Woodland Jumping Mouse (Napaeozapus insignis). Range based on molecular analyses by Malaney et al. (2017).

Zapus (jumping mice)

Malaney et al. (2017) recognized 9 species within the genus Zapus, elevating some of the subspecies in Krutzsch's (1954) revision of jumping mice to species status. The work of Malaney et al. (2017) has importantly exposed cryptic diversity and putative new species within Zapus, but further studies will be needed to fully understand new species boundaries.

  • Former range of Zapus hudsonius based on Krutzsch (1954)
  • Former range of Zapus princeps based on Krutzsch (1954)
  • Former range of Zapus trinotatus based on Krutzsch (1954)
  • Northern Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius). Dark range represents Malaney et al.'s (2017) distribution based on genetic analyses. Lightly shaded region represents the range based on earlier taxonomy-based assessments.
  • Southern Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus luteus). Formerly a subspecies of Zapus princeps and then Z. hudsonius, Zapus luteus was elevated to species status by Malaney et al. (2017).
  • Central Pacific Jumping Mouse (Zapus montanus). Formerly a subspecies of Zapus trinotatus, Z. montanus was elevated to species status by Malaney et al. (2017).
  • Zapus okanoganensis sp nov, based on Malaney et al. (2017). This species has not yet been described and for now is included in Zapus saltator.
  • Oregon Jumping Mouse (Zapus oregonus). Formerly a subspecies of Zapus princeps, Zapus oregonus was elevated to species status by Malaney et al. (2017).
  • Southern Pacific Jumping Mouse (Zapus pacificus) Formerly a subspecies of Zapus princeps, Zapus pacificus was elevated to species status by Malaney et al. (2017).
  • Southwestern Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps). Dark range represents Malaney et al.'s (2017) distribution based on genetic analyses. Lightly shaded area represents the former range based on earlier taxonomy-based assessments.
  • Northwestern Jumping Mouse (Zapus saltator). Formerly a subspecies of Zapus princeps, Zapus saltator was elevated to species status by Malaney et al. (2017).
  • Northern Pacific Jumping Mouse (Zapus trinotatus). Dark range represents Malaney et al.'s (2017) distribution based on genetic analyses. Lightly shaded region represents the former range based on earlier taxonomy-based assessments.
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