A small nocturnal rodent native to North America, characterized by white feet and a bicolored tail, inhabiting diverse woodland and grassland ecosystems across eastern and central United States.
Deciduous and mixed forests, woodland edges, grasslands, agricultural areas, ranging from sea level to approximately 2,500 meters elevation, preferring areas with dense ground cover and moderate vegetation complexity.
Critical seed dispersal agent, prey species for numerous predators, contributes to forest ecosystem dynamics through seed caching and soil nutrient cycling.
