Detection of White-footed Deermouse (Peromyscus leucopus) on Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick, Canada: Taxonomic, Biogeographic, and Human-health Implications

Grand Manan Island represents the southernmost region of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. Due to its isolation, the island fauna is depauperate, with few native mammal species. Recent molecular genetic analysis of Peromyscus collected from GMI revealed the mitotype (cytochrome b gene) indicative of P. leucopus (White-footed Deermouse). This species previously was known only from mainland Nova Scotia in Maritime Canada. Here we document the occurrence of P. leucopus on Grand Manan Island and discuss the implications of this discovery, most notably as it relates to the endemic P. maniculatus argentatus (Grand Manan Deermouse) and the presence of Lyme disease.