Sometimes called the long-nosed deer mouse, they are found occasionally in the Park, chiefly east of the Continental Divide. They prefer living in rocky areas, and are not as abundant as the true deer mouse (maniculatus).
JUMPING MOUSE (Zapus princeps princeps)
A large mouse with a dark back and greatly elongated hindlegs. Very long tail. Total length 9 inches.
This “kangaroo-like” mouse is found more commonly in the vegetation along the cold, rushing mountain streams. Although weighing less than an ounce, they make average hops or leaps from five to six feet at a bound.
THE VOLES
These little mammals are all members of a family of rodents which are set apart by their stocky, clumsy build, small ears, blunt heads, and certain skeletal differences. They have a decided preference for the colder regions of the globe and are generally a populous group in the world of rodents, the most numerous and widely distributed of which are the meadow voles. They are merely listed here to show the variety that have been found in the Park and to give an indication of their relative abundance. The final identification of some of them is possible only on close examination and measurement. For identifying characters, consult the reference mentioned in the preface.
LONG-TAILED VOLE (Microtus longicaudaus mordax)
Common in all types of habitat.
DWARF VOLE (Microtus montanus fusus)
Common on grassy hillsides and drier meadows.