Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse Monitoring and Conservation
Since the late-1990's the US Air Force Academy, in partnership with the Colorado Natural Heritage Program has conducted annual population and monitoring surveys for the Preble's meadow jumping mouse. This is the longest continuous database for this species' population data.
Riparian zones on the base support significant populations of Preble's, and habitat protection and mitigating habitat disturbance are the focus of conservation efforts. The biggest threats to the PMJM on the U.S. Air Force Academy is habitat is being rapidly degraded by mismanaged storm water and other development in the surrounding watershed.
Colorado Fish and Wildlife Conservation staff provide oversight and review designs for channel stabilization and stream restoration projects in the Colorado Springs area to improve PMJM habitat. Recovery efforts at the U.S. Air Force Academy play a critical role in PMJM conservation and provides valuable information to develop a recovery plan for the species.
