coastal dune ecosystems. Predation by domestic cats contributed significantly to the demise of this population. Holliman, D. C. 1983. The mouse population was extirpated in 1979, but was re-established in 1986–1987 (Holler et al., 1989). It is endangered because of loss of habitat do to development on the coast, separation of population, hurricanes and tropical storms, pedestrians, residents' pets, and other rodents. Biology The species is endangered. Monogamous, with strong pair bonds; reproduction peaks in late autumn and early winter. indicator of healthy dune ecosystems which help protect coastal habitats, Alabama Dept. Alabama beach mice were studied at the Perdue (BSPU) and Fort Morgan (FTMO) Units of the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Alabama, USA . On top of all that, the beach mouse has to deal with predators like owls, skunks and domestic cats on a nightly basis. Visitors rarely catch a glimpse of this species The Alabama beach mouse has a body length of 2.7-3.4 in (68-88 mm), and a tail that adds another 1.6-2.3 in (42-60 mm). In the event that past patterns proceed with, there is a chance of the population density to shoot up to 99 by the year of 2021. Man is only beginning to bounce back from the pounding that was 2004’s Hurricane Ivan, 2010’s oil spill and 2012’s Hurricane Isaac, so you can imagine the fragile state that our five-inch friends are in. This can be a gigantic increment in the figure of Alabama’s population density. Green Global Travel is the world's #1 independently owned ecotourism website encouraging others to embrace sustainable travel, wildlife conservation, cultural preservation, and going green tips for more sustainable living. Howell, A. H. 1909. Due to habitat loss and mortality from feral animals, Perdido Key beach mice (PKBM) were declared an endangered species in 1983. We were also featured in the 2017 National Geographic book, Ultimate Journeys for Two, for which we contributed a chapter on our adventures in Rwanda. Located in the southern part of the United States, the state of Alabama is so-called after a native American tribe by the same name. The Alabama beach mouse is able to survive along the Cotton State’s temperamental coast by digging into the sloping sides of sand dunes and setting up an intricate system of up to 10 burrows. Beach mice populations are continually monitored to track movement, growth, and reproduction. All hosted affiliate links follow our editorial policies. The eight subspecies include five on the Gulf Coast and three (historically) on the Atlantic Coast. Damage from tropical storms and hurricanes further affected the beach mouse’s environment. 12192. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/12192 To view detailed map move small map area on bottom of map. Because of extensive development throughout the Alabama Gulf Coast, the present-day distribution of the Alabama beach mouse is greatly reduced (Holliman 1983). Due to habitat loss and mortality from feral animals, Perdido Key beach mice (PKBM) were declared an endangered species in 1983. The Santa Rosa beach mouse is the only subspecies that is not listed as threatened or endangered due to most of their habitat being protected within conservation lands on Santa Rosa Island. Alabama Beach Mouse Alabama ranks first among states or is at or near the top for several types of animals and plants. Other awards we've won include Best Feature from both the Caribbean Tourism Organization and the Magazine Association of the Southeast. On the dunes of a stretch of Gulf State Park, we checked on some home-made tracking tubes to monitor the ABM population. Fish & Wildlife Service. The objectives of this study were: (1) to test for changes in size and demography of the beach mouse population following Hurricane Opal; (2) to determine if mice modified their The Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission team is working closely with city officials, facilities and sports event planners regarding the status of upcoming events in response to COVID-19. Falcy, Matthew Richard, "Individual and population-level responses of the Alabama beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus ammobates) to environmental variation in space and time" (2011). Researchers have long pleaded with local government that if more precautionary measures weren’t taken to care for the rodent’s home, the population would be wiped out by 2050. Holliman, D. C. 1983. This video and the data collected is made possible through a federal permit issued by U.S. Alabama beach mice were studied at the Perdue (BSPU) and Fort Morgan (FTMO) Units of the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Alabama, USA . The Anastasia Island beach mouse is listed as endangered due to the loss of the habitat that it needs to survive. Its back is colored pale gray, with an indistinct mid-dorsal stripe. Alabama beach mouse (P. p. ammobates) 2. Today I was to go in the field with another biologist in the office, Bill Lynn, who is the lead recovery biologist of the endangered Alabama Beach Mouse (ABM). of Public Health’s Guidelines for Adult and Youth Athletic Activities. Alabama (/ ˌ æ l ə ˈ b æ m ə /) is a state in the southeastern region of the United States. It’s a small mouse with a buff colored patch on its back and snowy white underbelly. Alabama to Cape San Blas, Florida: the Alabama beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus ammobates), the Perdido Key beach mouse (P. p. trissyllepsis), the Choctawhatchee beach mouse (P. p. allophrys), the Santa Rosa beach mouse (P. p. leucocephalus) and the St. Andrews beach mouse (P. p. peninsularis); the latter four occur on the Gulf coast of Florida. 2 - Best Management Practices for Beach Driving – Mechanized Beach cleaning on Alabama’s Coastal Beaches .....100 . Join our Gulf State Park team as we work with Trent Farris, a Volkert consultant, to monitor the endangered Alabama Beach Mouse population along the boundaries of Gulf State Park. To call the diminutive rodent a mere field mouse would be unjust. Alabama Beach Mouse Alabama ranks first among states or is at or near the top for several types of animals and plants. 0.0764% of the population of Alabama have died from COVID-19, approximately 76 in 100,000 people. Foley is currently growing at a rate of 2.94% annually and its population has increased by 37.34% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 14,618 in 2010. Journal of the Alabama Academy of Science 62:18-27. 5.168% of the population of Alabama has tested positive for COVID-19, approximately 5168 in 100,000 people. This dune dweller burrows small tunnels in the sand to raise its young and is generally considered to be monogamous. The Alabama beach mouse, an endangered species, lives in coastal dune ecosystems. Alabama Cases (253,364) make up 1.44% of the total US Cases of COVID-19 (17,569,746) Status and habitat of the Alabama Gulf Coast beach mice Peromyscus polionotus ammobates and P. p. trisyllepsis . It is number one for diversity of freshwater mussels, freshwater fishes (Tennessee is a close second), freshwater snails, crayfish, and freshwater turtles.It is third for combined diversity of amphibians and reptiles and seventh for number of species endemic to the … The Alabama beach mouse never reached that level of peril, but has seen dramatic reductions in population and the available dune habitat. Active populations are known to exist in areas of public ownership at Fort Morgan and within the Perdue Unit of the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge (Swilling and Wooten 2002). The Johnson Beach and Perdido Key Recreation Area populations are the only remaining sites known to be inhabited. Alabama Beach Mouse P. polionotus ammobates. HABITAT: Similar to the Alabama beach mouse. State in USA. The Alabama beach mouse was designated an endangered species in 1985. The applicant will conduct on-site monitoring of the Alabama beach mouse population via fall and spring trapping surveys (twice a year) over the remaining term of the ITP. Feeding primarily on seeds and insects the beach mouse diet includes beetles, leaf hoppers, sea oats, ground cherry, dune spurge, blue stem, evening primrose, beach pea, seaside pennywort and various acorns found in the interior scrub habitat. but can often see tracks when walking on the boardwalk leading to the beach. Also known as the Yellowhammer state because of the state bird, Alabama sees over 20 million tourists … Using Alabama beach mouse trapping data provided by the U.S. The five Gulf Coast subspecies are found in geographically distinct populations on barrier islands, keys, or coastal peninsulas between Mobile Bay, Alabama, and Cape San Blas, Florida (Figure 2). The tail is white with an incomplete dorsal stripe. Howell, A. H. 1909. We've been spotlighted in major media outlets such as the BBC, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, The Guardian, Lonely Planet, National Geographic, Travel Channel, Washington Post and others. The beach mouse population at Perdido Key, a small strip of land that straddles the Alabama-Florida border, was nearly wiped out in the mid-1990's when hurricanes Erin and Opal ravaged Perdido Key’s beaches. Status of endangered beach mouse populations in Alabama. Development along the Gulf Coast was a major factor in the decline of the mouse’s population, as construction contributed to the fragmentation and destruction of its habitat. Holler, N. R. and Rave, E. H. 1991. especially during hurricanes, Diet: Granivorous, omnivorous; Primarily seasonal seeds and insects, Habitat: Primary and secondary dunes with sea oats, beach grass, other grasses and herbs, as well as interior dune ridges and scrub habitat along the Alabama Gulf Coast, Size: 4-5 inches in length including the tail; 12.5 grams or less than three nickels. The mouse population was extirpated in 1979, but was re-established in 1986–1987 (Holler et al., 1989). Beach mice, endangered subspecies of oldfield mice (Peromyscus polionotus), occur in a few, isolated populations along the Gulf Coast of Alabama and F… In fact, this elusive creature is endemic to this area, which means it can only be found on Anastasia Island. Researchers have long pleaded with local government that if more precautionary measures weren’t taken to care for the rodent’s home, the population … A conservation plan was agreed upon in early 2012 that will allow new building permits on the endangered animal’s habitat to be intensely reviewed in about three months rather than the drawn-out process of years, thus ensuring construction practices deemed favorable or not could be labeled as such much sooner. The icon links to further information about a selected division including its population structure (gender, age … Behavior. The Alabama beach mouse population likely will be negatively affected by environmental change through increased hurricane frequency and intensity. If you enjoyed reading about the Alabama Beach Mouse, you might also like: ENDANGERED SPECIES SPOTLIGHT: Sumatran Elephant, ENDANGERED SPECIES SPOTLIGHT: Saola (Asian Unicorn), ENDANGERED SPECIES SPOTLIGHT: Iberian Lynx, Filed Under: North America, Wildlife Conservation. Strictly nocturnal in nature, they have large eyes and big ears to help them as they leave their burrows at dusk and remain active during the night. Please contact us at info@GreenTravelMedia.com for more info. The Alabama Beach Mouse Foundation is organized to promote education about the Alabama Beach Mouse, a … Status and habitat of the Alabama Gulf Coast beach mice Peromyscus polionotus ammobates and P. p. trisyllepsis . And with the release of a new  Alabama Beach Tourism Report coming out that vacationers made this past summer the most profitable in the Alabama Gulf’s history, the need for more building will likely only grow in the area. The sides and belly are white. Atmore reached it's highest population of 10,196 in 2010. Owned by Bret Love (a veteran journalist/photographer) and Mary Gabbett (business manager/videographer), USA Today named us one of the world's Top 5 Travel Blogging Couples. –DeMarco Williams. The Alabama beach mouse population likely will be negatively affected by environmental change through increased hurricane frequency and intensity. Distribution continues to shrink due to construction of beach-front buildings and associated destruction of habitat. Northeast Gulf Science 6:121-129. 3 - US Fish and Wildlife Service Approved Native Plant List for Alabama Beach Mouse … existence has been threatened by man’s steady development of the coast, as well Status of endangered beach mouse populations in Alabama. Using Alabama beach mouse trapping data provided by the U.S. We are open to discussing advertising, sponsorships, brand ambassadorships, freelance work, speaking/teaching engagements, and consulting opportunities. 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