HERBEAL FEEDING BEHAVIOR OF THE NEW MEXICO MEADOW JUMPING MOUSE (ZAPUS HUDSONIUS LUTEUS)

We report the first observations of feeding behavior by free-ranging New Mexico meadow jumping mice (Zapus hudsonius luteus). We made observations during a radiotelemetry study of Z. h. luteu,s in the floodplain of the Rio Grande at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro Co., New Mexico, in 2009 and 2010. We observed Z. h. luteus eat the achenes or seeds of the order Cyperales: common threesquare (Schoenoplectus pungens), spikerush (Eleocharis spp.), saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum), Saunder's wildrye (Elymus saundersii), Japanese brome (Bromus japonicus), slender wheatgrass (Elymus trac72ycaulus), and knotgrass (Paspalum distichum). Mice frequently foraged 0.5-1 m above the ground in the canopy of herbaceous vegetation. Seed heads for consumption were harvested in several ways.