The Alabama beach mouse (''Peromyscus polionotus ammobates'') is a federally

endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and in ...

subspecies of

oldfield mouse The oldfield mouse or beach mouse (''Peromyscus polionotus''), is a nocturnal species of rodent in the family Cricetidae and primarily eats seeds. It lives in holes throughout the Southeastern United States in beaches and sandy fields. Predators ...

that lives along the

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = " Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County , LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham , area_total_km2 = 135,7 ...

coast The coast, also known as the coastline or seashore, is defined as the area where land meets the ocean, or as a line that forms the boundary between the land and the coastline. The Earth has around of coastline. Coasts are important zones in n ...

Description

The Alabama beach mouse is around 122 to 153 mm (2.8 to 6 in) long and can weigh anywhere from 10 to 17 g (0.78 to 0.88 oz.). The tail usually accounts for 55 to 65 percent of the total body length. Males are generally smaller than females. Its coloring ranges from brown to pale gray, with white undersides and feet. A dark brown mid-dorsal stripe is common.

Distribution and status

The range of the Alabama beach mouse historically included much of the Fort Morgan Peninsula on the Alabama Gulf coast, and extended from Ono Island to Fort Morgan. As of 2019, populations have been observed near Fort Morgan, in the

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge located in five separate units in Baldwin and Mobile Counties, United States, directly west of Gulf Shores, Alabama on the Fort Morgan Peninsula. The refuge serves as a resting ...

, and a reintroduced population is surviving in

Gulf State Park Gulf State Park is a public recreation area on the Gulf of Mexico in the city of Gulf Shores in southern Baldwin County, Alabama. The state park's mostly encompass the land behind the Gulf Shores beach community, between Highway 59 and SH 161 ...

, although it is no longer believed to inhabit areas east of the park.

The Alabama beach mouse is one of several subspecies of oldfield mice living only in coastal sand dune areas. They are

nocturnal Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnal meaning the opposite. Nocturnal creatures generally have highly developed sens ...

and live in

burrow An Eastern chipmunk at the entrance of its burrow A burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to construct a space suitable for habitation or temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of locomotion. Burrows provide a form of s ...

ed nests in

sand dune A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, f ...

s, where they have some protection against flooding. They eat various plant seeds and insects. They prefer sand-covered slopes with patches of

sea oats ''Uniola paniculata'', also known as sea oats, seaside oats, araña, and arroz de costa, is a tall subtropical grass that is an important component of coastal sand dune and beach plant communities in the southeastern United States, eastern Mexi ...

beach grass ''Ammophila'' (synonymous with ''Psamma'' P. Beauv.) is a genus of flowering plants consisting of two or three very similar species of grasses. The common names for these grasses include marram grass, bent grass, and beachgrass. These grasses ar ...

, and other grasses and herbs. Beach mice are an important part of the coastal dune ecosystem. Thriving beach mouse populations indicate a healthy dune system. The mice themselves contribute by collecting and distributing seeds. Uneaten seeds grow into plants which help to stabilize dunes. Beach mice are also an important part of the food chain, providing a food source for dune predators such as snakes and owls. Coastal residential and commercial development and roadway construction have fragmented and destroyed habitat used by this species.

Hurricane A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Dep ...

s, dune use by pedestrians, and

tropical storm A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depend ...

s have also damaged or destroyed sand dunes and related habitats. Stalking by domestic and wild cats and dogs, birds, and raccoons, as well as other animals, plus competition from other rodents have also contributed to Alabama beach mouse declines. In 1986, the Alabama beach mouse was listed as endangered by the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with othe ...

. The species is protected in areas such as the

Baldwin County, Alabama Baldwin County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Alabama, on the Gulf coast. It is one of only two counties in Alabama that border the Gulf of Mexico, along with Mobile County. As of the 2020 census, the pop ...

. In ''

Sierra Club v. Babbitt ''Sierra Club v. Babbitt'', 15 F. Supp. 2d 1274 (S.D. Ala. 1998), is a United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama case in which the Sierra Club and several other environmental organizations and private citizens challenged ...

'', environmental organizations halted construction of housing in the Alabama beach mouse's habitat.

References

External links

FWS report on the Alabama Beach Mouse
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2636280 Mammals of the United States Endemic fauna of Alabama Peromyscus