Fun Eastern Harvest Mouse Facts For Kids
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A species of rodents, the eastern harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys humulis) is primarily found in North American countries. These mice are generally quite small in size, and the average weight and length of an eastern harvest mouse are 0.015-0.017 lb (7-8 g) and 4.3-5 in (10.9-12 cm) respectively.
Female eastern harvest mice are slightly heavier than males. This mouse has brown fur, while its underbelly is gray in color.
The tail is dark brown on one side and whitish-gray on the other and it is almost equal to the length of the body. The eastern harvest mouse has brown ears and whitish-gray feet.
The eastern harvest mouse is an omnivore and mainly preys on seeds, weeds, insects, fruits, and vegetables. The species can easily be found in the states of Ohio, Oklahoma, Maryland, Texas, southeastern Virginia, and Florida in the United States. Also, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the species in the Least Concern category.
Keep on reading to learn more interesting facts about the eastern harvest mouse. If you want to know more exciting information about different animals, check out these Chinese hamsters and the dormouse too.
Eastern Harvest Mouse Interesting Facts
What type of animal is an eastern harvest mouse?
The eastern harvest mouse is a rodent that belongs to the family of Criceditae. These rodents are omnivores and primarily prey on small insects, fruits, and vegetables.
What class of animal does an eastern harvest mouse belong to?
The eastern harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys humulis) belongs to the class of Mammalia, the order Rodentia, and the Reithrodontomys genus.
How many eastern harvest mice are there in the world?
The exact population of the eastern harvest mouse is not known now, but studies reveal that the population has been declining for the last three to four decades. Also, there are around 1,425,000 harvest mice, a similar species, found throughout the United States.
Where does an eastern harvest mouse live?
The species is found in North American countries, but a huge population can easily be spotted in the states of the United States, including Virginia, Texas, Ohio, and many more.
What is an eastern harvest mouse's habitat?
A wet meadow is the primary eastern harvest mouse habitat, but these mice are found in abandoned fields and marshes too. The mean home range of these rodents is below 10,763 sq ft (1000 sq m) in size.
Who do eastern harvest mice live with?
The species is nocturnal but we don't have much information regarding the social behavior of eastern harvest mice. Other similar species are solitary and prefer to live alone. They generally come closer during the breeding season.
How long does an eastern harvest mouse live?
These small mammals generally live for around nine and a half weeks only!
How do they reproduce?
The species mates all year-round, but the breeding season of the eastern harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys humulis) occurs between March to September. Vocal interaction is a primary courtship display among these mice.
The gestation period generally lasts for 20-21 days while they place the nest in tangled vegetation. The female mouse gives birth to between two and four offspring. Males are not involved in taking take of the offspring.
What is their conservation status?
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the species in the Least Concern category but for a few decades, however, their distribution and population have been declining due to human interference and habitat loss.
Eastern Harvest Mouse Fun Facts
What do eastern harvest mice look like?
Just like the harvest mouse, this mouse has brown fur while its underbelly is gray in color. The tail is dark brown on one side and whitish-gray on the other and is almost equal to the length of the body. The eastern harvest mouse has brown ears and whitish-gray feet. Also, females are a bit bigger than males.
*Please note that this is an image of the harvest mouse, not the eastern harvest mouse. If you have an image of an eastern harvest mouse please let us know at hello@kidadl.com.
How cute are they?
These tiny-sized mice are very shy and remain aloof from humans. One can also find these rodents sleeping inside the flowers that would look so adorable.
How do they communicate?
Like other mouse species, the eastern harvest mouse uses similar methods to communicate. These rodents use their mouths, noses, ears, and several body movements to interact with each other. They also squeak if they feel threatened.
How big is an eastern harvest mouse?
The typical eastern harvest mouse size is relatively small. An eastern harvest mouse's average weight and length are 0.25-0.38 oz (7-8 g) and 4.3-5 in (10.9-12 cm) respectively. These rodents are three times bigger than the African pygmy mouse of sub-Saharan Africa and some eastern harvest mice are twice the size of the wood mouse.
How fast can an eastern harvest mouse run?
The exact speed of the eastern harvest mouse is not known as of now but the species is best known for its agility. These rodents are always a step ahead of their predators. Also, while catching insects, these mice move very fast.
How much does an eastern harvest mouse weigh?
An eastern harvest mouse weighs around 0.25-0.38 oz (7-8 g).
What are their male and female names of the species?
A male eastern harvest mouse is known as a 'buck' while females are known as 'does'. Female rodents are slightly heavier than males.
What would you call a baby eastern harvest mouse?
People generally call a baby eastern harvest mouse a 'pup'. Unlike adult mice, these pups do not have fur on their bodies.
What do they eat?
The typical eastern harvest mouse diet includes small insects such as the boll weevil, the burying beetle, and the rove beetle, as well as plants, seeds, vegetables, and fruits.
Are they dangerous?
Unlike other species, these rodents are not pests and are not known for attacking the vegetation they eat. Also, their small size generally does not pose any danger to humans, but they can attack if they feel threatened or if someone tries to harm them.
Would they make a good pet?
The eastern harvest mouse generally avoids human interaction and is quite shy, but people across the United States do keep them as pets. Unlike other species, the appetite of these rodents is relatively low, but according to studies and owners, the eastern harvest mouse is quite tough to tame.
Did you know...
These harvest mice can use their long tails as a fifth limb while climbing trees.
J. Michelle Cawthorn and Robert K. Rose have studied the population ecology of the eastern harvest mouse and are credited with giving information about the species' lifespan, weight, home range size, and much more.
The salt marsh harvest mouse, also known as the red-bellied harvest mouse, is listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. An estimate of only a few thousand salt marsh harvest mice are left. The prime reason for their population decline is a loss of habitat.
How high can eastern harvest mice jump?
Generally, eastern harvest mice do not jump too high. But a similar species, the meadow jumping mouse, is known for its jumps. This rodent could easily jump up 12 ft (3.6 m) and they have long hind legs which help them to bounce.
Characteristics of eastern harvest mice
Eastern harvest mice are known for their shy behavior and these rodents don't harm vegetation, unlike some other species. These rodents often squeak or make a high-pitched noise when they sense danger. Their lifespan is quite short and they only live for around nine and a half weeks.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our white-footed mouse factsor Jerboa facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable eastern harvest mouse coloring pages.
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As a content writer, Abhishek's passion for writing extends beyond professional content creation. With a Bachelor's degree in History from Ram Lal Anand College in Delhi, Abhishek is a skilled writer in both English and Hindi, bringing a creative flair to his work. He enjoys crafting satires and poetry and is dedicated to producing engaging and informative content.
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