Zapus hudsonius

photo credit: en.wikipedia.org

ID

  • Basically mouselike form, but with large feet, long hind legs, and a very long tail
  • Yellowish sides, white underparts and feet, darker dorsal band with many black-tipped hairs. Tail is brown above and white below with sparse hair

Distribution

  Credit: Smithsonian Institution

Reproduction

  • Emergence from hibernation begins the mating season in spring
  • After and 18 day gestation period, three to six young are born
  • Two litters per year

Behavior

  • Usually hide during the day and feed during the night, but not exclusively
  • Don’t use runways like other mice, but jump around freely
  • Don’t store food, but build up a fat layer to get them through hibernation, requiring two weeks of heavy eating.

Food Habits

  • After hibernation, animal material, especially beetles and cutworms, and seeds
  • Seeds, fungi, berries, fruits
  • Will gain access to grass seed heads by cutting the stalk until the seeds can be reached (Whitaker)

Size/Life Cycle

  • Average measurements: 202 mm (total length), 12-30 g (total weight) (Smithsonian)

Predators

  • Barn owls, foxes, skunks, weasels, snakes (Whitaker)

Habitat

  • Grassy field or mixed grass/forb fields, early successional-stage shrubland (Whitaker)