we aim to live-trap and sample ear-clips from deer mice (Peromyscus eremicus and crinitus) for sequencing back at the MacManes Lab at the University of New Hampshire. Standard sherman traps will be set in the evening and collected in the morning to limit heat exposure. Trapped animals will be partially anesthetized using isofluorane, standard mammalogical measurements (weight [g], total length, tail length, length of hindfoot and length of ear, reproductive status), will be collected in addition to recording metabolic activity via electrolytic screening of blood draws from the facial vein (punctured near the bend in the jaw using a small lancet, and collected via capillary tube). Two males and 2 females will be sacrificed and all tissues subsampled for transcriptomic analyses Ear clips will be taken from all remaining individuals with scissors and blood will be drawn from the facial vein (near the distal bend in the lower jaw) using a small lancet to test individual electrolyte levels. After data-collection all animals will be released. Any unanticipated casualties will have tissues collected and be archived as voucher specimens and all tissues will be subsampled into RNA later for transcriptomic analyses.

Approved