A few years ago I was seated on my favorite viewing platform quietly watching a patch of wetland. I was watching for ducks and geese and other wetland birds.
There were many reeds around the platform. It was a quiet calm day. All if a sudden I noticed a reed waving back and forth. Something was at the bottom of the reed where I could not see it. After much more shaking, I noticed a small mouse climbing up the reed.
And then, the reed broke off sending the mouse into the water below with a loud plop!. So I thought, "Good bye mousy." No sooner did that thought come into my head when I saw another reed shaking and after a while a mouse climbing up the stem. Well the mouse fell in again and went some where else as obviously it could swim.
So this was my first encounter with a western jumping mouse. They quite often are found in wetlands. Their most common predator is the northern pike!
I had never heard of a jumping mouse before and I have spent lots of time outdoors in natural areas. I haven't seen a western jumping mouse since.
They are interesting little characters and can make tremendous leap. They can jump about 6 feet horizontally and 2 ft high. They move like lightening and before you get a good look at them they are gone.
So on the day of my sighting, I stopped at the nature center to report my siting. They were familiar with the jumping mouse.
Cute little guys. I Googled them.
ReplyDeleteThey are very seldom seen and most people have never heard of them.
DeleteHow fantastic to see a critter you haven't encountered before and to know it's not often observed.
ReplyDeleteJust a little slice of magic!
Yes, and I'd like to see that little slice of magic again.
DeleteWhen you imagine how far and high we would have to jump, relative for our size, to match that...!!!
ReplyDeleteI never thought of it this way,
DeleteGood morning, Red. It’s just gone 5am here, and I am liking reading about your jumping mouse. What a weird and wonderful world we inhabit.
ReplyDeleteIt's a discovery that really surprised me.
DeleteI have never heard of a jumping mouse. How extraordinary. Well done, little mice - you deserve to survive.
ReplyDeleteI would think that very few have seen or heard of jumping mice.
DeleteI have never heard of a jumping mouse, what a sight to see.
ReplyDeleteTake care, have a wonderful week!
You're not the only one to have not heard of jumping mice. I saw one and have never seen another.
DeleteInteresting to learn about this mouse. And I'm sure glad it knows how to swim!
ReplyDeleteI think most animals can swim if we throw them in the water.
DeleteWhat a curious little creature you found, Red! You would think it would want to stay away from the water if the Northern Pike will eat it! I read that they have several other predators too. They are tiny little things.
ReplyDeleteThere were no northern pike in the body of water I found this little guy in.
DeleteI wonder if Eastern Jumping Mice exist?
ReplyDeleteThere are two other varieties of jumping mice in north America.
DeleteRed,
ReplyDeleteA quiet day, a duckless scene,
Till reeds began to dance so keen—
A mystery stirred the cattail floor...
A mouse arose—then swam once more!
He climbed with grace (well, tried his best),
But fate said splash, and he did the rest.
A gymnast rodent—what a feat!
Six-foot leaps on tiny feet!
Next time you spot a reed that shakes,
It might not be the wind that wakes.
So cheers to mice with daring flair—
Wetland acrobats beyond compare!
John 😊
They certainly are acrobats.
DeleteAmazing!
DeleteI've heard of flying squirrels. Let us know when you get a pic of that jumping mouse! Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteI've never seen another jumping mouse. We do have flying squirrels and if you want to spend time out at night , you will se them.
DeleteI love John's poem! I have never seen a jumping mouse before. I do love flying squirrels though. Do you have them?
ReplyDeleteWe do have flying squirrels but they are also hard to see.
DeleteWe find they are quite common here! I love the long tails, but the jumps!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing animal that it can jump, climb and swim! I can't imagine we'd like to have them here in Hawaii though. We already have too many feral chickens and cats.
ReplyDeleteI just checked on western jumping mouse
ReplyDeleteThey appear quite a tinier than we have here
I enjoyed the story of how he kept trying and swum