Plant matter:
* Seeds: These are a major food source, especially grasses, desert wildflowers, and cacti.
* Fruits: They'll eat ripe fruits when available.
* Leaves: They'll nibble on leaves, especially during times of scarcity.
* Roots and tubers: They dig for these underground sources of moisture and nutrition.
Animal matter:
* Insects: They are known to hunt insects, particularly beetles, grasshoppers, and ants.
* Small invertebrates: They'll consume spiders, scorpions, and other small invertebrates.
* Bird eggs: They'll prey on bird eggs if the opportunity arises.
* Carrion: They may scavenge on dead animals for sustenance.
Other food sources:
* Fungi: Some desert mice will eat mushrooms and other fungi.
* Human food scraps: They may venture near human settlements for discarded food.
The specific diet of a desert mouse can vary greatly depending on its location, the time of year, and the availability of food sources.