Courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife, FWS.com
ANASTASIA ISLAND, Fla. -- The state is working to preserve a beach mouse that only exists on the First Coast.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is doing a survey of Anastasia Island beach mice, indigenous exclusively to the area.
There hasn't been a complete survey of the island in 20 years and the FWC's goal is to confirm that they still exist because they are an important part of the ecosystem.
"So, we want to see if they're actually still present in those areas or if they've actually been extirpated or extinct within those areas now," explained Alex Kropp with the FWC.
Biologists know there are populations of the beach mice living at Anastasia Island State Park and Fort Matanzas State Park. However, until this survey began, they were unsure if the mice were still living in more high traffic areas, like St. Augustine Beach.
So far, the FWC's findings have been promising.
Scientists leave out special plastic tubes to help track the mice. Inside, they put sunflower seeds to attract the animals. To get to the seeds, the mice must pass over a small amount of ink and a strip of paper, so that the FWC can collect their footprints.
As of this week, they had gathered several of the tubes in which they found mice prints.
They have also been working to catch live mice and take small DNA samples from their tails so they can genetically compare the different populations on the island.
"They're white with kind of a tan head and back, so they're actually a kind of cute little mouse," said Kropp.
The mice burrow into the dunes and keep stashes of sea oat seeds in the holes. The seeds they don't eat usually sprout and help hold the sand in place.
That better fortifys the dunes and helps protect people's property in the event of a storm.
Officials say there are many ways you can help protect this endangered mouse.
- Stay off of the sand dunes
- Do not leave garbage on the beach
- Keep cats inside, they are a natural predator of the beach mouse
The FWC hopes to continue the survey through the end of the year. That way, they can track whether the mice migrate seasonally.
First Coast News