Western Jumping Mouse

Scientific Name	Zapus princeps princeps
Category	D
Taxon	Mammals
Climate Change Vulnerability Score	Less Vulnerable

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The Western Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps princeps; 18-25 cm [7-10 in]; 18-24 g [0.6-0.8 oz]) is found in the western regions of North America, specifically from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast. It lives in meadows and grasslands near access to water. The Western Jumping Mouse is mostly herbivorous, with a diet consisting of seeds, fruit, and rarely insects. The Western Jumping Mouse will experience a high degree of climate exposure and has a high adaptive capacity. Overall, it has a Climate Change Vulnerability Index ranking of Less Vulnerable under both Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and RCP 8.5 Scenarios. The Western Jumping Mouse’s climate change vulnerability is impacted by factors related to distribution and abiotic niche, which influence its ability to shift in space and respond to climate change impacts.

Threats and Conservation Actions

ECOREGION

THREAT

Result for: All

Biological Resource Use

Assess the synergistic effects between climate change and other threats to SGCN and their habitats (e.g., Friggens et al. 2019, Parks et al. 2019). Incorporate appropriate climate adaptation strategies and frameworks into projects designed to address these synergistic effects. This may include enhancing connectivity (CEQ 2023), facilitating a species’ innate adaptive capacity (Thurman et al. 2022), enhancing genetic diversity (Powell 2023), considering local adaptation (Meek et al. 2023), or considering whether it is most appropriate to resist, accept, or direct ecosystem transformation (Lynch et al. 2021, Stevens et al. 2021). Projects should acknowledge ecosystem dynamism and incorporate indigenous knowledge (e.g., Roos et al. 2022, Eisenberg et al. 2024), nature-based solutions (Warnell et al. 2023), and experimentation (Guiterman et al. 2022) when appropriate. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, USFS, USFWS, USGS, universities, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Biological Resource Use

Collaborate with interested and willing land managers and private landowners to designate protected areas or implement conservation easements for lands that encompass important SGCN habitats. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, NRCS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, non-profit organizations, private landowners.

Biological Resource Use

Determine life history needs, ecology, distribution, movements, status, and trends of and threats to SGCN (especially invertebrates that are not currently monitored, riparian-obligate species, herpetofauna [Pierce et al. 2016, Olson and Pilliod 2022], and rare native fishes) and their habitats. Consider full annual cycles for migratory species when appropriate and logistically feasible (KFF 2021) and interactions with lower trophic levels that may drive SGCN status (e.g., EPA 2023). Use this information to develop and implement effective monitoring protocols and conservation actions, including actions to mitigate identified threats. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, universities, non-profit organizations, private industry, species working groups, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Biological Resource Use

Develop and implement strategies to sustainably harvest wood products while retaining pine (Pinus spp.)-oak (Quercus spp.) regeneration, old-growth trees, large diameter snags, and coarse woody debris at densities needed by SGCN. Potential collaborators: BLM, USFS, SFD, SLO, private landowners.

Biological Resource Use

Evaluate the effectiveness of public education and outreach efforts regarding threats to SGCN and their habitats and the ways that the public can assist in threat mitigation (KFF 2021). Modify outreach activities as needed in response to evaluation outcomes. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USACE, USFS, USFWS, USGS, NMED, NMSP, SFD, SLO, universities, local governments, municipalities, non-profit organizations.

Biological Resource Use

Identify or develop an accessible, jointly used database to document the status and condition of, threats to, and conservation actions implemented across aquatic, riparian, and upland habitats. Identify data gaps (e.g., Ganey et al. 2017) and implement standardized methods to gather habitat data (e.g., Vollmer et al. 2018, Shirk et al. 2023) and to monitor the success of conservation actions (e.g., Davis and Pinto 2021), including impacts on local SGCN populations. Synthesize existing information (e.g., Jain et al. 2021) and apply modeling techniques to aid in evaluating success when appropriate (e.g., Parks et al. 2018). Adjust future conservation actions as needed based on observed outcomes. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USACE, USFS, USFWS, USGS, NMED, SFD, SLO, universities.

Biological Resource Use

Inform natural-resource law enforcement staff of the distribution, life history, and habitat needs of SGCN. Partner with them to enforce laws to protect SGCN populations and habitats. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, USFS, USFWS.

Biological Resource Use

Work with landowners and land-management agencies to use forests, woodlands (including piñon-juniper woodlands), and savannas in a manner that maintains healthy, and returns degraded, vegetation to an improved composition and function for SGCN, while protecting grassland communities surrounding piñon-juniper woodlands from woody plant invasion. Potential collaborators: BLM, DOD, NPS, USFS, SFD, SLO, private landowners.

State Wildlife Action Plan for New Mexico

New Mexico State Wildlife Action Plan

Related Resources

State Wildlife Action Plan for New Mexico

New Mexico State Wildlife Action Plan

Western Jumping Mouse

Ecoregions

Southern Rocky Mountains

Habitats

Threats and Conservation Actions

Related Resources