Kansas Mammal Atlas

Distribution:
Two subspecies occur in Kansas, Reithrodontomys megalotis dychei in the northern half of the state and Reithrodontomys megalotis aztecus in the southwestern section of the state. This species inhabits a fairly wide variety of habitats, from relatively dry grasslands and dense weedy fields with high overhead protection where the ground surface between plants is generally bare, to brushy riparian areas. However, the grass is usually taller and denser than that inhabited by the plains harvest mouse.

(, Museum Voucher) (, Observation) (, Literature Record)
Open icons are questionable records; Click on a marker to view details.

• Occurrence Summary:  
• 2,742 Total Records 
• 2,627 Museum Vouchers 
• 115 Other Observations 

Some county occurrences indicated below may be too imprecise to map above.
County Breakdown: County Name (# occurrences):
Anderson (5); Atchison (14); Barber (1); Barton (49); Brown (11); Butler (2); Chase (4); Cheyenne (42); Clark (2); Cloud (5); Coffey (3); Comanche (1); Cowley (6); Decatur (11); Dickinson (53); Doniphan (21); Douglas (175); Edwards (10); Ellis (308); Finney (144); Ford (35); Franklin (20); Geary (35); Gove (13); Graham (55); Grant (6); Gray (1); Hamilton (2); Harvey (16); Haskell (7); Hodgeman (9); Jackson (6); Jefferson (14); Jewell (179); Johnson (1); Kearney (4); Kiowa (25); Lane (9); Leavenworth (28); Lincoln (7); Logan (43); Lyon (14); Marion (2); Marshall (27); McPherson (1); Meade (153); Miami (2); Mitchell (5); Montgomery (6); Morris (1); Morton (30); Nemaha (8); Neosho (9); Ness (4); Norton (34); Osage (11); Osborne (25); Ottawa (9); Pawnee (8); Phillips (191); Pottawatomie (20); Rawlins (273); Reno (2); Republic (31); Rice (5); Riley (80); Rooks (139); Rush (2); Russell (62); Saline (46); Scott (22); Seward (14); Shawnee (3); Sheridan (20); Sherman (1); Smith (14); Stafford (17); Stanton (5); Stevens (1); Sumner (1); Thomas (10); Trego (26); Wabaunsee (11); Wallace (2); Washington (4); Wichita (6); Woodson (2); Wyandotte (1);

Natural History:
Although the western harvest mouse does not often develop its own runways, it does use those made by other small mammals, especially prairie voles. It is mainly nocturnal, but is active during cloudy days, in areas of dense vegetation. Its nest is placed on the ground or above ground in grasses, weeds or low shrubs and other vegetation. The nest is about three inches in diameter, round, compact, and woven with dry grasses and plant fibers. It is lined with soft plant material, such as thistledown. Like other harvest mice, they are socially tolerant, and may huddle in communal nests, especially in winter.
Adults may attain the following dimensions: total length 118-156 mm; tail 55-77 mm; hind foot 14-20 mm; ear 10-16 mm; weight 11.5-16 grams.
This mouse eats seeds, green plant parts, and some insects.
The Western Harvest Mouse breeds throughout the year except during severe winter months. From two to nine young (average four to five) are born blind, naked and hairless, after a gestation period of 24 days. In ten days the eyes and ears open, and hair has already started to grow on the body. In 19 to 21 days the young are weaned and in five weeks they are adult size. The young usually breed at an age of two months, but in some cases earlier. Females have six nipples, one pair near the front legs (pectoral) and two pair in the groin (inguinal) region.

Occurrence Activity:

Remarks:
The western harvest mouse is preyed upon by hawks and owls, small carnivores and snakes. Longevity in this mouse is about one year or less.

Bibliography:

Account Last Updated:
7/13/2017 10:14:28 AM