Family: Muridae, Mice and Rats view all from this family

Description Reddish brown interspersed with black above, shading to yellowish on sides; white below. Tail more than half total length. Feet reddish above. Grooved incisors. L 5 1/4 -7 7/8" (134-200 mm); T 2 7/8 -4 1/2" (72-116 mm); HF 5/8 - 7/8" (15-22 mm); Wt 1/2 -1 oz (14-30 g).

Similar Species Most other harvest mice have shorter tails. Western Harvest Mouse is less reddish yellow on sides.

Breeding Breeding season peaks in March and July in Texas; several litters per year of 2-6 young each.

Habitat Grassy or weedy areas, usually with shrubs; arid inland valleys. In regions where it overlaps range of Plains Harvest Mouse, this species chooses areas with less cover.

Range Southeastern Arizona east to sw and e Texas, e Oklahoma, se Kansas, sw Missouri, w Arkansas, Louisiana, and w Mississippi.

Discussion Strictly nocturnal, the Fulvous Harvest Mouse is an excellent climber and spends much time aboveground. It eats a great variety of food, but eats little green vegetation. In one study, it fed predominately on insects in spring and summer and on seeds in fall and winter; in another, invertebrates dominated its diet throughout the year. The red-tailed hawk is a documented predator.