Family: Heteromyidae, Pocket Mice and Kangaroo Rats view all from this family

Description A medium-size pocket mouse. Soft-furred. Pinkish buff or yellowish above, interspersed with blackish hairs; white or buff below; indistinct olive-greenish line on sides. Long tail, darker above, whitish below, slightly crested toward tip. Hair inside ear is buffy. L 5 7/8–7 3/4" (148–198 mm); T 3–4 1/4" (77–107 mm); HF 3/4–1" (19–27 mm); Wt 5/8–1 1/8 oz (16.5–31 g).

Similar Species Little Pocket Mouse is smaller. Long-tailed Pocket Mouse has tufted tail that is more distinctly crested along terminal third.

Breeding Breeds spring–summer; producing 1–3 litters per year. First mates in April, after emerging from hibernation. Litters of 2–8 young each, usually born in May and August, after estimated gestation of 21–28 days.

Habitat Arid, sparsely vegetated plains and brushy areas.

Range South-central British Columbia south through e Washington, e Oregon, and s Idaho to ne and c California, Nevada, Utah, extreme se Wyoming, and extreme nw Arizona.

Discussion This pocket mouse is active from April through September, eating many kinds of insects and collecting seeds to be stored in its burrow, including those of Russian thistle, pigweed, wild mustard, and bitterbrush. It doesn’t need to drink because it metabolizes water from its food. Summer nesting and storage burrows are shallow, but the animal digs a deep tunnel to a hibernation nest of dry vegetation in a chamber 3 to 6 feet (1–2 m) deep, where it spends the winter. Its many predators include snakes, owls, hawks, weasels, skunks, and foxes.