The life and times of the Granite State's Jumping Mice.
By now one of New Hampshire's true hibernators has already hit the hay, so to speak. I'm talking about jumping mice. Although New Hampshire has several animals that lay low for the winter, we have very few that truly hibernate, or that are literally "out cold" for the entire season without waking up or eating. Jumping mice sleep for six to eight months with no food or activity at all.
We have two species of jumping mice in the state, the meadow and the woodland. Both hibernate and both have long tails and have large hind feet, which help them live up to their name. Meadow jumping mice are brown with yellowish sides, while the woodland species has more orange on its flanks and a white tip on its tail.
Although both species would rather hide from potential predators than jump, they are both Olympic-class leapers. The woodland species wins the prize for the longest jump: a typical eight to ten inch mouse - and that length includes the tail, folks - can jump six to eight feet!
Jumping mice have an interesting relationship with an underground fungus, well, as much as one can have a relationship with a fungus! The mice eat the fungus and disperse the spores in their droppings. The mouse's digestive juices may actually even help the fungus spores to germinate.
These mice are wonderful, but different to watch. Besides being asleep for half the year, they are one of our most secretive and elusive animals.
