NM Jumping Mouse Conservation & Recovery

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The purpose of this Cooperative Agreement is to renew and promote the conservation and recovery of the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius luteus), a federal candidate species. Specific objectives to be accomplished through this Cooperative Agreement are as follows:To investigate the relationships between management activities on the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse in the Middle Rio Grande. Specific objectives will include investigating the influence of moist soil management, salt cedar removal, bosque forest restoration, and ditch management on distribution, abundance, habitat use, movement patterns, and demography of the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse. The proactive management at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge (BDANWR) provides a unique opportunity to conduct research in order to understand how these management activities might influence distribution, abundance and other life history characteristics of the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse. General jumping mouse population characteristics within each study site will be evaluated through traditional capture-mark-recapture methods on permanent grids or transects at each study site. This aspect of the study will provide data on the influence of the various management activities on distribution and abundance of the jumping mouse.Radiotelemetry will be used to track movements of individual jumping mice within the complex matrix of habitats at BDANWR, which will be evaluated using Geographic Information System (GIS). Research also will provide data on important aspects of the biology of the jumping mouse, such as nesting locations, hibernation habitat, timing of reproduction, use of habitat corridors, response to disturbance, and many other factors, which will be critical to insuring the persistence of the species. As justification for Single Source Determination, in accordance with Department of the Interior guidance (505 DM 2.14) USFWS Region 2 provides notice of its intent to make a single-source award for Phase 1, in the amount of 67,656, via a cooperative agreement with New Mexico State University/Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit. Additional awards and amendments are dependent on available funds.

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