Habitat: High mountains in dry places with abundant low ground cover.
Description: A small rodent, two-toned in color, that leaps through the grass much like a kangaroo rat. Total length 8 to 10 inches. Tail 4½ to 6 inches. Color buffy along sides, shading to almost black on the back and white on the underparts and feet. Tail bi-color, dark above and light gray beneath. Ears relatively long, dark in color with light buffy marginal lines. Eyes beady, set in long face with sharp nose. Front legs short but hind legs and feet large and muscular. Young, four to six in a litter, with no more than one litter a year in the higher elevations.
The jumping mice are among the most specialized small rodents in the United States. The genus is typically North American, only one species being found outside this continent. At some time in the distant past this little creature adapted itself to a mode of flight much like that of the kangaroo and jerboa. In this respect it exceeds the kangaroo rats and pocket mice of the United States, species to which it is distantly related. Its general build is distinctly like that of the kangaroo, with the same delicately formed front quarters and heavier hind quarters. The tail, though not club-shaped like the kangaroo’s, is long enough to serve the same purpose—that of a rudder to guide the direction of flight. The hindlegs are muscular enough to propel the body on proportionally longer jumps than even the kangaroo. Here the resemblance ceases, however, for the jumping mouse is not related, even distantly, to this marsupial. The only pouches the jumping mice have are internal cheek pouches used exclusively for transportation of food.
Jumping mice have one more peculiarity that set them apart from most other North American mice; they hibernate. The period of hibernation is not a short one at the elevations at which these mice live. It may last for as long as 6 months. Preparation for this extensive period of inactivity consists mainly in gathering and eating grass seeds until a thick layer of fat is stored under the skin. With the first cold weather the jumping mice retire to previously prepared underground burrows and sleep the winter away.
Since they are almost exclusively seed eaters, they may have a difficult time on emerging in the spring. Apparently there is no food cache stored away for this period, so the hapless rodents must search for what can be found until the grasses head out again. The method of harvesting grass seed is unique, and once seen will not be easily mistaken. Living as they do in a jungle of tall grass, they are not able to reach the heads nor to climb the slender stems. Instead, they cut off the stem as high as they can reach, pull the upper part down to the ground and cut it again. This goes on until the head is brought within reach. Small piles of grass stems, all cut to an average length, indicate that this is the species which has been at work.
Jumping mice seldom will be seen except when in flight. Then their jack-in-the-box tactics make it almost impossible to determine what they are really like. They are timid, inoffensive little creatures which, if caught, will seldom offer to bite.
Bushy-tailed woodrat
Neotoma cinerea (Greek: neos, new and temnien, to cut ... Latin: cinereus, ashy)
Range: Mountainous portions of western North America from Alaska south to central California, northern Arizona and New Mexico.
