Northern Grasshopper Mouse

The northern grasshopper mouse (Onychomys leucogaster) is a North American carnivorous rodent of the family Cricetidae. It ranges over much of the western part of the continent, from southern Saskatchewan and central Washington to Tamaulipas in northeast Mexico. == Description == The northern grasshopper mouse is found in North America, primarily in dry areas. They are stocky: on average they are 164 mm (6.5 in) long and about 35 g (0.077 lb) in weight. The tail is often less than 30% of the total body length, whereas other mice tend to have longer tails. It has two main color phases: grayish (or black in northeastern bits of its range) and cinnamon with white below. Unlike most rodents, this one has a mostly carnivorous diet mainly consisting of small insects, other mice, and even snakes; no more than a quarter of its diet is plant-based. Vegetation is consumed in greatest amounts around midwinter. This rodent is also nocturnal and especially active on moonless or cloudy nights. Throughout the night, the grasshopper mouse makes high-pitched noises, performed with a raised nose and opened mouth to claim its territory. It's preyed on primarily by hawks, owls, coyotes, and snakes. == Habitat == This…