JUMPING MICE-GENUS ZAPUS-ARE A SMALL GROUP OF NEW WORLD RODENTS WITH SEVERAL UNIQUE FEATURES. THEY ARE RELATED MORE CLOSELY TO THE OLD WORLD JERBOAS THAN THEY ARE TO NEW WORLD MICE. THEY ARE ADEPT JUMPERS AND SWIMMERS . THEIR PELAGE EXHIBITS AN INTERESTING PELAGE PATTERN WITH A WIDE STRIPE OF DARK GREYISH BROWN DOWN THE CENTER OF THE BACK BORDERED BY SHARPLY DELINEATED SIDES OF TAWNY ORANGE. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST THEY HIBERNATE.
IVE COME ACROSS THEM FROM TIME TO TIME BUT NEVER HAD A GOOD OR PROLONGED LOOK. THE MOUSE IN THESE PHOTOS WAS FOUND IN MODERATELY TALL GRASS AT AN OLD HOMESTEAD IN THE PARKLAND REGION OF ALBERTA. PHOTOS WERE DIFFICULT OWING TO THE THICK GROUND COVER BUT I MANAGED A FEW SHOTS WHICH ILLUSTRATE THE COLOUR AND PROPORTIONS. AFTER INITIALLY TRYING TO HOP AWAY IN THE GRASS THIS INDIVIDUAL ALLOWED A CLOSE APPROACH ALTERNATELY STAYING MOTIONLESS TO ESCAPE DETECTION AND MOVING SHORT DISTANCES IF WE ATTEMPTED TO BE TOO FAMILIAR.