Evolution of the Apache Pocket Mouse - EKO Stop 6

Apache pocket mouse relaxing in the sun by a green sprout growing.

NPS Photo

They use these pockets to carry food to their dens. Pocket mice will store seeds in their burrows to eat later. If there aren’t enough seeds around, they will also eat leaves, stems of plants, and small insects. The white coloration of the Apache pocket mouse makes it hard for predators to see them. The more a mouse blends in with its habitat, the more likely it will live a long life. With each life cycle, the mice will become lighter because of the process of natural selection. In other words, the lighter mice will survive long enough to reproduce. They spend most of the day under the ground to keep out of the heat of the day. They will block up the den opening during the day to keep the cool night air inside. The tracks of the Apache pocket mouse resemble the movement of when you pretended to be a frog by putting your hands in between your feet on the ground and hop forward.