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| Distribution |
In NC, it ranges throughout the mountains, but has been recorded only at widely scattered sites in the Piedmont, mainly more than 30 years ago. Thus, currently it is assumed to occur almost solely in the mountains.
A wide range from coast to coast, extending from southern AK east to Labrador, and south to the central parts of the United States -- NC, AL, and OK. |
| Abundance |
Rare in the mountains, and almost certainly declining; seemingly quite rare in most areas now, with few recent records. We are not aware of any recent records away from the mountains; it likely has declined greatly in the Piedmont and certainly must be considered very rare (or extirpated) in this province. Nearly all of the recent records (photos) of jumping mice in NC have been of the Woodland Jumping Mouse, as opposed to the Meadow Jumping Mouse. |
| Seasonal Occurrence |
Webster et al. (1985) state that "Jumping mice are the only mice in the region [NC, SC, VA, and MD] which hibernate". Otherwise, active from about March or April at least into late November. |
| Habitat |
Typically in moist sunny areas -- moist meadows, marshy edges, damp brushy thickets, etc. They are not usually found in forested habitats, where the Woodland Jumping Mouse occurs, but it can occur at wooded edges or in some woods where the latter species is apparently absent; these wooded habitats are usually close to water. In any habitat, there must be dense herbaceous vegetation present.
See also Habitat Account for General Open, Wet Herblands |
| Behavior |
Active mainly at night. They seldom make runways, and as they are generally solitary, biologists seldom find good evidence of the species that points to a Meadow Jumping Mouse. Most records are probably from trapping efforts, or animals found dead on the surface. |
| Comments |
Most field guides consider this species as "common" across its range. However, in the southeastern portion of the range, such as the Carolinas and VA, it is considered to be scarce, with relatively few records. The N.C. Natural Heritage Program long had the species on its Watch List, but with so few records in the past few decades, the State Rank has been moved from S3 all the way to S1; it also was moved from the Watch List to being tracked as Significantly Rare in 2020. Though not yet officially State listed, it seems to merit consideration for Special Concern status. |
| Origin |
Native |
| NC List |
Official |
 State Rank |
S1 |
| State Status |
SR |
| Global Rank |
G5 |
| Federal Status |
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| subspecies |
Zapus hudsonius americanus |
| other_comName |
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| synonym |
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