Kristine Dingman, age 12, of Springfield, Ore., for her question:

WHICH MOUSE DIGS TUNNELS?

There are hundreds of different kinds of mice living in every part of the world.. All are small, and they all have chisel like front teeth that are useful for gnawing.

Deer mice, sometimes called white footed mice, can be found from northern Colombia throughout North America as far north as Labrador and Alaska. They live in every kind of region including swamps, deserts,, mountains and plains. There are more than 50 different species of deer mice.

Deer mice build their nests in tunnels they dig in the ground, although they also nest in hollow logs, tree stumps or cracks in rocks. They eat berries, fruits, leaves, seeds, nuts and insects. When excited, they make a drumming sound by thumping their front feet rapidly on the ground.