Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse

Zapus hudsonius preblei

Population, Conservation Status, Threats:

Considered threatened under the United States endangered species act. Little is known about current populations and their trends. Threats include habitat fragmentation and loss - due in part to the very specific conditions Preble's meadow jumping mice prefer - and increasing populations of predators and competitive non-native species, like house mice.

Physical Description:

Preble's meadow jumping mice are tan to light brown in color, with large feet and a dark brown stripe along its spine. Their long tail makes up for over half of their entire length.

Colorado Preble's jumping mouse range from the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Preble's meadow jumping mice are found along the Front Range of Colorado - a place where the majority of the state's human population also lives, posing a threat to the species' undisturbed existence.

Habitat:

Found in riparian zones along the front range of Colorado and potentially into southern Wyoming.

Behavior:

Spends two thirds of the year hibernating in subterranean dens. During the summer, they are nocturnal, making them hard to find even outside of hibernation season. They are good jumpers, being able to leap up to three feet to escape predators.

Diet:

Diet is widely varied, including invertebrates - primarily in the vulnerable larval stage - fruit, seeds and nuts, tender leaves and buds, and fungi.

Reproduction:

Little is known, but reproductive habits are likely to be similar to that of other meadow jumping mouse species. Gestation lasts about 18 days, and mating takes place during July and August, during two separate reproductive periods.

Associated Species:

Domestic cats pose a predation threat, as well as skunks and raccoons, all of which are species whose populations are increasing near riparian zones primarily because of (intentional or inadvertent) human help.

Illustration by Willow Sedam

Sources: https://cnhp.colostate.edu/download/documents/cwic_docs/CPWSpeciesProfiles/CPWProfiles_PreblesMeadowJumpingMouse.pdf, https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2018-10/published-recovery-plan-prebles-meadow-jumping-mouse, https://wgfd.wyo.gov/WGFD/media/content/PDF/Habitat/SWAP/Mammals/Prebles-Meadow-Jumping-Mouse.pdf

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse