Where does the kangaroo mouse live? - briefly
The kangaroo mouse inhabits the arid deserts and semi‑desert scrub of the southwestern United States, chiefly in Nevada, California, Arizona, and adjacent regions of the Sonoran and Great Basin deserts. It favors sandy soils and rocky foothills where sparse vegetation offers shelter.
Where does the kangaroo mouse live? - in detail
The kangaroo mouse is endemic to the arid interior of western North America. Its distribution spans the Great Basin and adjacent desert regions, including parts of Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, California, and Arizona. Two species occupy this range: the pale kangaroo mouse (Microdipodops pallidus) and the dark‑furred kangaroo mouse (Microdipodops xerophilus).
Both species prefer habitats characterized by loose, sandy or gravelly soils that facilitate burrowing. Typical environments include sagebrush steppe, desert scrub, and open shrublands where vegetation such as Artemisia, sagebrush, and creosote bush provides cover and occasional food sources. Elevations from 1,200 to 2,500 m are common, with populations most abundant in low‑to‑moderate mountain slopes and basin floors.
Key habitat features:
- Well‑drained substrate for underground chambers
- Sparse vegetation offering protection from predators
- Arid climate with low annual precipitation (often below 250 mm)
- Temperature extremes, with nocturnal activity to avoid daytime heat
Population density is highest in areas where these conditions converge, such as the Nevada‑Utah border, the Mojave Desert fringe, and the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada. The species’ range contracts during severe droughts, but the overall distribution remains confined to the desert and semi‑desert ecosystems of the western United States.