Colorado expands habitat protection for endangered Preble's jumping mouse

Colorado is expanding habitat protection for the endangered Preble's meadow jumping mouse by restoring streamside habitats and encouraging landowners to participate in conservation efforts. This small rodent, found mainly in riparian and wetland habitats along Colorado's Front Range, was listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1998 due to habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation.

In 2025, a study published in Frontiers in Conservation Science documented a community-led conservation approach in the North Fork Poudre watershed, where 102 stream miles were identified as potential habitat for the mouse. The restoration efforts have focused on improving existing habitats and creating new areas suitable for the mouse by changing grazing practices, using post-assisted log structures, and encouraging landowners to protect suitable habitat.

In 2024, a conservation bank was developed near Livermore, providing payments to landowners who protect and restore riparian areas where the mouse occurs. The North Fork Poudre Site Conservation Team, established in 2019, brings together private landowners, government agencies, conservation groups, researchers, and local stakeholders to protect the mouse's habitat.

By combining habitat restoration, scientific monitoring, and financial incentives for landowners, Colorado aims to create a connected and sustainable landscape for the Preble's meadow jumping mouse, benefiting not only this species but also other wildlife and the overall health of the watershed.