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Project Noah Nature School
Zapus princeps
Gray with lighter yellowish to golden sides; dark back; long tail; enlarged hind feet with a long tail that is sparsely haired and scaly.
Forest edge,ferns and grasses,ivy and horsetail plants,sands and marshy ground. Is a Granivore, herbivore.
I was bird watching and spotted this cute little gray mouse at the edge of the forest. I could see the ivy move in a curvy trail while the small mouse scampered away hidden by ivy. It made a final appearance at a thick growth of wild berries,bushes and ferns before completely disappearing from sight.
Spotted on Jun 13, 2013
Submitted on Jun 13, 2013
4 Comments
I have always been interested in jumping mice since I caught one during a small mammal survey in northern California many years ago. Based on my field guides (Reid 2006; Eder 2002), the only Zapus that would be in Hoquiam would be the Pacific jumping mouse (Z. trinotatus). Since Zapus are white below and have a bicolored tail, I think the guy in your fantastic photo is a different species.
adorable.
Children story book picture, lovely.
Sweet spotting!