Western Jumping Mouse - Zapus princeps
Western Jumping Mouse - Western Jumping Mouse along Copper Creek in the Blackfoot drainage.
Global Rank:
G5
State Rank:
S4
Agency Status
USFWS:
none
USFS:
none
BLM:
none
CFWCS Tier:
3
General Description
The information for this species is not complete. We hope to have it available soon.
Distribution
Montana Range
Migration
Non-migratory.
Habitat
Usually tall grass along streams, with or without a brush or tree canopy. Also dry grasslands in N. Central MT. Mesic forests with sparse understory herbage in W. MT. From valley floors to timberline & alpine wet sedge meadows (Hoffmann and Pattie 1968).
Food Habits
Seeds are important prehibernation food. Accumulates fat reserves of up to 2/3 body weight. Does not chache food in or near winter nest. (Jones et al. 1983).
Ecology
Nests are in mounds or banks elevated above surrounding ground (well-drained). Nests usually 2 feet underground, shredded vegetation insulative core. Single burrow 3-4 feet long. Entrance plugged (Jones et al. 1983).
Reproductive Characteristics
Young continue to nurse after they have begun eating solid food.
Citations & Sources
- Burt, W. H. and R. P. Grossenheider. 1964. A field guide to the mammals. 2nd edition. The Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, MA.
- Foresman, K.R. 2001. The wild mammals of Montana. Special Publication No. 12. American Society of Mammalogists
- Kritzman, Ellen B. 1977. Little mammals of the Pacific Northwest. Pacific Search Press, Seattle, WA.
- Zeveloff, S. I. 1988. Mammals of the Intermountain West. Univ. of Utah Press, Salt Lake City, Utah.