New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse - Caleb Biggers
New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse
(Zapus hudsonius luteus)
by Caleb Biggers
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| Image 1: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/stelprd3809052.jpg |
Species Description
Image 2: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd514875.jpg
The New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse is a small endangered subspecies of the Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius), found primarily in New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. It's size can range from 180 mm to 240 mm including its tail. It's fur is brownish-grey with white underneath. The jumping mouse can be easily identified by it's long hind feet which it used to jump up to eight feet if necessary. For nine months of the year the jumping mouse hibernates, so during the three month of activity the mouse eats to accumulate energy for the next hibernation, breeds, and raises their young. During this active season, the mouse is nocturnal. A very specific habitat it required for the Jumping Mouse. It requires permanent water sources and saturated soil to create tall grasses and plants to live in. Image 2 above shows an example of such an environment.
Population Ranges
Image 3: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?sId=7965
The New Mexico Jumping Mouse requires wetlands and streams as constant water supplies to live. Currently, the mouse is located in a small area in Eastern Arizona, a small strip of Southern Colorado, and in New Mexico. Image 3 shows the current population distribution. In the past, the mouse's population ranged in the wetlands and streams of the San Juan Mountains from Colorado to New Mexico. The mouse also used to be found closer to the White Mountains of Arizona.
Listing Date and Type of Listing
The New Mexico Jumping Mouse was listed as endangered by the Fish and Wildlife Service on June 20th, 2013. This was done following a review of data ranging from 1980 to 2012 on the species' habitat range and occurrences that found a steady decline of populations.
Cause of Listing and Main Threats
Image 4: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd505644.jpg
Upon review the Fish and Wildlife Service found that from 1980 to 2012 the distribution and abundance of the
mouse had declined significantly. In their study, the found that over 70
historically occupied locations contained none of the mice. All of the
populations they did find from Colorado to New Mexico were isolated and
spread very apart. In these populations that were found, the habitat
patches were too small to support a resilient population. The causes of this continual decline are many. The mouse requires a very specific habitat and due to the small areas the populations live in any small changes are devastating to the population as the mouse cannot relocate. The main source of habitat loss is from domestic grazing animals. This removes vegetation and the required constant water. Another cause for the loss of habitat are wildfires which are increasing in regularity due to climate change.
Recovery Plan
The New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office is the agency leading the New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse recovery plan. The ten-step plan was put into place in June 2014. Below is the list of action steps for the plan:
1. Establish partnerships to design and install effective barriers or enclosures or change livestock management techniques (e.g. fencing, reconfiguration of grazing units,off-site water development, or changing the timing or duration of livestock use) to limit ungulate grazing and protect riparian habitats from damage.
2. Work cooperatively with stakeholders to maintain the required microhabitat components or modify or limit actions (e.g., bridge and road realignment projects, water use and management, stream restoration, and vegetation management) that preclude their development and restoration, in order to stabilize and expand current jumping mouse populations.
3. Identify priority areas to reduce fuels to minimize the risk of severe wildland fire and identify techniques for post-fire stabilization in areas that burn.
4. Modify off-road vehicle use and manage dispersed recreating through fencing, signage, education, and timing of use.
5. Facilitate the natural expansion of jumping mouse habitat through the management and restoration of beaver. In New Mexico, beaver can no longer be relocated or transplanted without written consent from all property owners, land management agencies, or other affected parties (e.g., irrigation districts) within an 8-kilometer (5-mile) radius of the proposed release site or connective waters (New Mexico Department of Game and Fish 2009, entire).
6. Complete and emergency contingency and salvage plan to capture jumping mice and bring individuals into captivity in the event of severe wildland fire, post-fire flooding, or severe drought.
7. Establish a monitoring protocol to determine presence/absence or estimate the abundance of jumping mouse populations.
8. Investigate the genetic diversity of populations to identify and address where long term management strategies may be needed to enhance their genetic integrity.
9. Formally evaluate whether assisted translocation or a captive breeding program for jumping mice would be beneficial as a recovery option.
10. Conduct research on the critical aspects of jumping mouse life history (e.g. reproduction, abundance, survival, movement behavior).
The recovery plan is currently ongoing with steps 6 and 7 already completed. An example of a protected habitat area is shows below in Image 5. This example shows a lane for cattle to cross the protected mouse habitat. There is no estimated completion date for the full recovery plan.
Image 5: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/stelprd3809054.jpg
What can you do?
The dislocation of the New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse is primarily due to cattle grazing. This can be reduced by responsible grazing of herd owners in the habitat regions of New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. Donations to the Fish and Wildlife Service as well as the New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office are an indirect way to help this species.
Resources
Species Profile:
Recovery Plan:
Forest Service Page:
Species Description
 |
| Image 2: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd514875.jpg |
The New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse is a small endangered subspecies of the Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius), found primarily in New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. It's size can range from 180 mm to 240 mm including its tail. It's fur is brownish-grey with white underneath. The jumping mouse can be easily identified by it's long hind feet which it used to jump up to eight feet if necessary. For nine months of the year the jumping mouse hibernates, so during the three month of activity the mouse eats to accumulate energy for the next hibernation, breeds, and raises their young. During this active season, the mouse is nocturnal. A very specific habitat it required for the Jumping Mouse. It requires permanent water sources and saturated soil to create tall grasses and plants to live in. Image 2 above shows an example of such an environment.
Population Ranges
 |
| Image 3: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?sId=7965 |
The New Mexico Jumping Mouse requires wetlands and streams as constant water supplies to live. Currently, the mouse is located in a small area in Eastern Arizona, a small strip of Southern Colorado, and in New Mexico. Image 3 shows the current population distribution. In the past, the mouse's population ranged in the wetlands and streams of the San Juan Mountains from Colorado to New Mexico. The mouse also used to be found closer to the White Mountains of Arizona.
Listing Date and Type of Listing
The New Mexico Jumping Mouse was listed as endangered by the Fish and Wildlife Service on June 20th, 2013. This was done following a review of data ranging from 1980 to 2012 on the species' habitat range and occurrences that found a steady decline of populations.
Cause of Listing and Main Threats
 |
| Image 4: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd505644.jpg |
Upon review the Fish and Wildlife Service found that from 1980 to 2012 the distribution and abundance of the
mouse had declined significantly. In their study, the found that over 70
historically occupied locations contained none of the mice. All of the
populations they did find from Colorado to New Mexico were isolated and
spread very apart. In these populations that were found, the habitat
patches were too small to support a resilient population. The causes of this continual decline are many. The mouse requires a very specific habitat and due to the small areas the populations live in any small changes are devastating to the population as the mouse cannot relocate. The main source of habitat loss is from domestic grazing animals. This removes vegetation and the required constant water. Another cause for the loss of habitat are wildfires which are increasing in regularity due to climate change.
Recovery Plan
The New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office is the agency leading the New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse recovery plan. The ten-step plan was put into place in June 2014. Below is the list of action steps for the plan:
1. Establish partnerships to design and install effective barriers or enclosures or change livestock management techniques (e.g. fencing, reconfiguration of grazing units,off-site water development, or changing the timing or duration of livestock use) to limit ungulate grazing and protect riparian habitats from damage.
2. Work cooperatively with stakeholders to maintain the required microhabitat components or modify or limit actions (e.g., bridge and road realignment projects, water use and management, stream restoration, and vegetation management) that preclude their development and restoration, in order to stabilize and expand current jumping mouse populations.
3. Identify priority areas to reduce fuels to minimize the risk of severe wildland fire and identify techniques for post-fire stabilization in areas that burn.
4. Modify off-road vehicle use and manage dispersed recreating through fencing, signage, education, and timing of use.
5. Facilitate the natural expansion of jumping mouse habitat through the management and restoration of beaver. In New Mexico, beaver can no longer be relocated or transplanted without written consent from all property owners, land management agencies, or other affected parties (e.g., irrigation districts) within an 8-kilometer (5-mile) radius of the proposed release site or connective waters (New Mexico Department of Game and Fish 2009, entire).
6. Complete and emergency contingency and salvage plan to capture jumping mice and bring individuals into captivity in the event of severe wildland fire, post-fire flooding, or severe drought.
7. Establish a monitoring protocol to determine presence/absence or estimate the abundance of jumping mouse populations.
8. Investigate the genetic diversity of populations to identify and address where long term management strategies may be needed to enhance their genetic integrity.
9. Formally evaluate whether assisted translocation or a captive breeding program for jumping mice would be beneficial as a recovery option.
10. Conduct research on the critical aspects of jumping mouse life history (e.g. reproduction, abundance, survival, movement behavior).
The recovery plan is currently ongoing with steps 6 and 7 already completed. An example of a protected habitat area is shows below in Image 5. This example shows a lane for cattle to cross the protected mouse habitat. There is no estimated completion date for the full recovery plan.
 |
| Image 5: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/stelprd3809054.jpg |
What can you do?
The dislocation of the New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse is primarily due to cattle grazing. This can be reduced by responsible grazing of herd owners in the habitat regions of New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. Donations to the Fish and Wildlife Service as well as the New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office are an indirect way to help this species.
Resources
Species Profile:
Recovery Plan:
Forest Service Page:
It is crazy to me that this mouse seemingly spends 3/4 of its life hibernating, with the other 3 months of the year spent breeding and accumulating energy for the next hibernation. This was a very informational post, good job! -Michael Avila
ReplyDeleteGreat job! I was surprised to see that this mouse requires wetlands and streams to survive, as that is not the typical habitat I imagine for a mouse. It was also sad to see that they are going extinct due to being forced out of their very specific habitat area due to cattle grazing and wildfires. Very informative! - Bailey Barton
ReplyDeleteCrazy how they can jump to about 8 feet if necessary and that they spend most of the year hibernating! - Zamantha Baraceros
ReplyDeleteMice are an important prey for snakes. Snakes are popular in the New Mexico ecosystem. I wonder if the decline of these mice causes a decline in snakes. I hope the mice population improves because it becomes important in an ecosystem as prey for other animals. -Chris Berridge
ReplyDeleteInteresting to see a more recent addition to the endangered species list! I was surprised to see such a complex recovery plan for such a small animal. -Audrey Bolesta
ReplyDeleteWow its pretty hard to imagine a mouse that size jumping as high as eight feet in the air! I'm not surprised that it is endangered as you mentioned that it requires a very specific habitat. Hopefully their population numbers jump back up.
ReplyDelete-Keaton Bates
I like how you give a really detailed description of the recovery plan. I also really like the layout of your blog. Its sad that wildfires are destroying their habitats, and the populations are struggling to find sustainable areas.- Grant Baldwin
ReplyDeleteFor spending 9 months in hibernation, it makes sense that this animal has enough energy to jump up to 8 ft high! Remarkable animal to say the least. I am hoping for a speedy comeback. -Guillermo Avilez
ReplyDeleteIt was nice to be able to zoom in all the pictures to see all the tiny details! Great organization. Grant Anderson
ReplyDeleteGreat organization. I like how I could zoom in on the pictures!- Pierson Berry
ReplyDeleteCrazy that these little animals can jump up to 8 feet. Sad to see their population is slowly declining and hopefully we can reverse that.
ReplyDelete-Shea Blackman