Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: MOUSE, PLAINS HARVEST

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: MAMMALIA

Order: RODENTIA

Family: CRICETIDAE

Genus: REITHRODONTOMYS

Species: MONTANUS

SubSpecies: GRISEUS

Taxonomic Authority: BAILEY

Taxonomy References: 016 , 002

Status

NONGAME
STATE RANK S2
GLOBAL RANK G5

Status References: 007 , 013

Habitat Summary

"Inhabit areas with short grass. Sometimes occur in grain fields."

Primary Habitat: "Grassland(matrix)"

References: 001 , 003 , 004 , 005 , 006

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Two Missouri records - McDonald county *01,03* and Vernon county *12*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
DADE ADAIR
MCDONALD ANDREW
VERNON ATCHISON
AUDRAIN
BARRY
BARTON
BATES
BENTON
BOLLINGER
BOONE
BUCHANAN
BUTLER
CALDWELL
CALLAWAY
CAMDEN
CAPE GIRARDEAU
CARROLL
CARTER
CASS
CEDAR
CHARITON
CHRISTIAN
CLARK
CLAY
CLINTON
COLE
COOPER
CRAWFORD
DALLAS
DAVIESS
DEKALB
DENT
DOUGLAS
DUNKLIN
FRANKLIN
GASCONADE
GENTRY
GREENE
GRUNDY
HARRISON
HENRY
HICKORY
HOLT
HOWARD
HOWELL
IRON
JACKSON
JASPER
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MADISON
MARIES
MARION
MERCER
MILLER
MISSISSIPPI
MONITEAU
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
NEW MADRID
NEWTON
NODAWAY
OREGON
OSAGE
OZARK
PEMISCOT
PERRY
PETTIS
PHELPS
PIKE
PLATTE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
RAY
REYNOLDS
RIPLEY
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SCOTT
SHANNON
SHELBY
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
ST. FRANCOIS
ST. LOUIS
STE. GENEVIEVE
STODDARD
STONE
SULLIVAN
TANEY
TEXAS
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 015 , 001 , 003 , 012

Distribution by Watersheds

Little Osage R.
Marmaton R.
Osage R. from Headwaters to Warsaw, MO.
Sac R.
Indian Creek

Comments: "Likely to occur in units listed, based on county occurrence."

Distribution by Ecoregions

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Bluestem Prairie/Oak Hickory Forest
Cedar Glades
Oak-Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory-Pine Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Ozark: Elk River
Osage Plains

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Terrestrial" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Aquatic Associations:

References for Aquatic Associations:

Habitat Types:

Limestone Glade
Annuals
Cereal Grain
Perennial Grass (Warm season)
Perennial Grass (cool-season)
Shrub-Grass

References for Habitat Types: 009

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Prairie
Limestone/Dolomite Prairie
Dry Limestone/Dolomite Prairie
Dry-Mesic Limestone/Dolomite Prairie
Chert Prairie
Dry Chert Prairie
Dry-Mesic Chert Prairie
Primary
Glade
Limestone Glade
Dolomite Glade
Chert Glade
Sandstone Glade
Shale Glade
Igneous Glade

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities: 004 , 005 , 006 , 009 , 010

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Omnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits

Adult Food Habits

Forbs; Bole/Stem
Gramineae (grass); Bole/Stem
Forbs; Leaves/Needles
Forbs; Fruit/Seeds
Gramineae (grass); Fruit/Seeds
Insects Insects; Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 004 , 006

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

General habitat association specified in comments(00270)

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 004 , 005 , 006

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

Height of herbaceous vegetation specified in comments(00630)

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 004 , 005 , 006

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Successional stage: abandoned field
Successional stage: stable prairie/grassland
Successional stage: climax grassland
Herbaceous cover (%) specified in comments(00620) Herbaceous cover (%) specified in comments
Height of herbaceous vegetation specified in comments(00630)
Agricultural crops: small grains

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 004 , 005 , 006 , 014

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Successional stage: abandoned field
Successional stage: stable prairie/grassland
Successional stage: climax grassland
Height of herbaceous vegetation specified in comments(00630)
Agricultural crops: small grains

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 004 , 005 , 006 , 010

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Successional stage: abandoned field
Successional stage: stable prairie/grassland
Successional stage: climax grassland
Height of herbaceous vegetation specified in comments(00630)
Agricultural crops: small grains

References for resting adult niche requirements: 004 , 005 , 006 , 010

Niche Requirement Summary

Agricultural crops: small grains
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Height of herbaceous vegetation specified in comments(00630)
Herbaceous cover (%) specified in comments(00620) Herbaceous cover (%) specified in comments
Successional stage: abandoned field
Successional stage: climax grassland
Successional stage: stable prairie/grassland

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
007 Breeds year-round *04*
017 Gestation 21 days *04,06*
018 Litter size 2-5, average 3 *04,06*
022 Mature at 2 months *06*

Life History Information

Periodicity: active at night
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy: gleaning
Foraging strategy: grazing
Foraging sites: ground
Foraging sites: herbaceous vegetation
Foraging sites: shrubs
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Nest/den site: on the ground
Nest/den site: underground burrow
Nest materials: grasses
Gestation/incubation period specified in comments(017)
Clutch/litter size specified in comments(018)
Age at sexual maturity specified in comments(022)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
007 Breeds year-round *04*
017 Gestation 21 days *04,06*
018 Litter size 2-5, average 3 *04,06*
022 Mature at 2 months *06*

References for life history: 001 , 003 , 004 , 006

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Agricultural - develop and maintain food plots
Agricultural - retention of crop residue over winter
Agricultural - no-till farming

Beneficial Management References: 010

Adverse Managment Practices:

Adverse Management References:

Comments on Management:
In KS were found where fescue pasture was converted to native prairie. Preferred sites with relatively low vegetative cover, including a continuously grazed site *14*.

References for Management Comments: 014

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Long, Charles A. 1961. Reithrodontomys Montanus Griseus In Missouri. J. Mammal. 42: 417-418.
002 Hall, E.R. 1981. The Mammals Of North America, 2nd Ed. John Wiley And Sons, Inc. New York. 1181pp.
003 Schwartz, C.W. and E.R. Schwartz. 1981. The Wild Mammals Of Missouri 2nd Ed. Univ. Of Missouri Press And Mo Dept. Of Conservation, Columbia, Mo. 356 Pp.
004 Sealander, J.A. 1979. A Guide To Arkansas Mammals. River Road Press, Conway, Arkansas. 313 Pp.
005 Goertz, J.W. 1963. Some Biological Notes On The Plains Harvest Mouse Proc. Okla. Acad. Sci. 43: 123-125.
006 Lechleiter, R.R. 1969. Wild Mammals Of Colorado. Pruett Publ. Co., Boulder, Colorado. 254 Pp.
007 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
008 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
009 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
010 Unpb Clawson, R. Mo Dept. Of Conservation, 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
011 The Checklist Of Rare And Endangered Species Of Missouri. 1991. Missouri Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 44 Pp.
012 Unpb Missouri Department of Conservation Heritage Database. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo 65102.
013 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.
014 unpb Rucker, H.D. 2001. Conversion of tall fescue pastures to tallgrass prairie in southeastern Kansas: small mammal responses. M.S. Thesis, Kansas State Univ., Manhattan. 68 pp.
015 UNPB Shelby Timm. MDC Mammal Database. Missouri Dept. of Conservation, Ellington Office. 2929 County Rd 618, Ellington, MO 63638/
016 The Mammal Diversity Database of the American Society of Mammalogists. 02/22/2023. https://www.mammaldiversity.org/index.html