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Western Jumping Mouse - Zapus princeps

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Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S4

Agency Status
USFWS: none
USFS: none
BLM: none
CFWCS Tier: 3





 

General Description
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Distribution
Montana Range




Observations in Montana: 404

Montana Counties
Beaverhead, Big Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Carbon, Cascade, Chouteau, Deer Lodge, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Glacier, Golden Valley, Granite, Hill, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, Lincoln, Madison, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Powell, Ravalli, Rosebud, Sanders, Sheridan, Silver Bow, Sweet Grass, Teton, Valley, Wheatland



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.
Additional Sources of Information Related to "Mammals"
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Citation for data on this website:
Western Jumping Mouse — Zapus princeps.  Montana Field Guide.  Retrieved on July 4, 2009, from http://FieldGuide.mt.gov/detail_AMAFH01020.aspx
 
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