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

Description Grayish brown above, whitish below. Tail bicolored, tufted. Ears very large. L 6 3/4 -9 1/8" (171-231 mm); T 3-4 7/8" (76-123 mm); HF 7/8 -1 1/8" (21-27 mm); E 3/4 -1" (18-26 mm); Wt 5/8 -1 1/8 oz (19-31 g).

Similar Species Osgood's Mouse is essentially identical but differs genetically. Northern Rock Mouse is more brownish, with longer tail. Brush, Canyon, and Cactus mice have smaller ears. California Mouse is larger.

Breeding Reproductive period April - September (February - November in Arizona); several litters per year of 3-6 young.

Habitat Pinyon-juniper areas, preferably rocky cliffs and hillsides with ample brush.

Range Southwestern Oregon south through California and east to Colorado, New Mexico, w Texas, and extreme w Oklahoma; also in nc Texas.

Discussion The Pinyon Mouse is an agile climber and often forages in trees for the pinyon nuts and juniper seeds that are its staple diet. It also eats other seeds, leafy plants, berries, and insects, and stores seeds and nuts in the nest. This mouse lives in hollow juniper trunks, or under rocks, in a nest made of grasses, leaves, and shredded juniper bark. Often there are small secondary nests of juniper bark scattered about the home range. Coyotes and Common Gray Foxes are among the many predators of the Pinyon Mouse.