Golden mouse

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The golden mouse (Ochrotomys nuttalli) is a small New World rodent found in the southeastern United States. It is not endangered and has a secure population.

What it looks like
- Body length is about 12–25 cm (5–8 inches), with a tail about as long as the body.
- Fur on top ranges from golden-brown to burnt orange; the belly is white and the tail is cream.
- The feet and undersides are pale, and the whiskers are dark.

Where it lives
- Golden mice inhabit thick woodlands, swamps, and areas with vines and small trees or shrubs.
- They especially like places with honeysuckle, greenbrier, and red cedar.
- They build nests in trees or on the ground and may use old bird nests or make new ones from leaves, grass, bark, and soft inner lining materials like milkweed, cotton, feathers, or fur.

Behavior
- They are mainly crepuscular (most active around dawn and dusk) and can be arboreal (tree-dwelling) or ground-dwelling.
- They are fast and use their prehensile tails for balance when climbing.
- Golden mice are social and not very territorial; several individuals may share a nest, especially in winter to save energy.

What they eat
- They are mainly granivorous, eating seeds.
- They also eat buds, berries, leaves, fruits, and some insects.
- They favor sumac seeds and honeysuckle, and also eat berries from dogwood, greenbrier, blackberry, and wild cherry.

Reproduction and life cycle
- They can reproduce year-round, with seasonal peaks varying by region (for example, September–spring in Texas, March–October in Kentucky and Tennessee).
- Gestation lasts about 25–30 days.
- Litters usually have 2–3 young, but can range from 1 to 4; up to many litters can occur in a year, especially in captivity.
- Newborns grow quickly and become independent by about three weeks old; sexual maturity comes within a few weeks after that.
- In the wild, groups often include mothers and their young, and family groups may help conserve energy in cold weather.

Variations and name
- There are several regional color differences, and about five described subspecies likely represent clinal variation rather than distinct populations.
- The name “golden” comes from the animal’s soft, golden fur; the genus name reflects colors and features of the ears.

Overall, the golden mouse is a colorful, social, seed-eating rodent that thrives in a variety of southeastern U.S. habitats.