The white-eared pocket mouse is threatened by invasive species such as the red imported fire ant and the feral pig. Fire ants can kill or harm pocket mice directly by attacking and envenomating them. They can also consume the seeds and insects that pocket mice rely on for food. Feral pigs can compete with pocket mice for food and shelter and destroy their habitat by digging and wallowing.
Loss of Habitat
The white-eared pocket mouse is losing its habitat due to several factors, including urban development, agriculture, and mining. As human populations grow and develop new areas, the habitat available for white-eared pocket mice decreases. Agriculture can also convert grasslands and other habitats important to pocket mice into cropland or pasture. Mining can also damage or destroy pocket mouse habitat by creating pits, roads, and other infrastructure.
Climate Change
Climate change and the associated shifting weather patterns are significantly impacting the habitat and survival of the white-eared pocket mouse. The shifting weather patterns have disrupted the mouse's reproductive cycles, leading to population declines. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events such as droughts and storms are also resulting in the loss of vital habitat and food sources for the white-eared pocket mouse.
Disease
Diseases such as hantavirus and plague pose additional threats to the white-eared pocket mouse. These diseases are harbored by rodents and can spread to pocket mice, leading to population declines. The spread of disease is facilitated by habitat fragmentation, which brings different rodent species into closer contact and increases the transmission of these deadly pathogens.
Overgrazing by Livestock
Overgrazing by livestock can significantly alter the vegetation composition and structure of grasslands, the primary habitat for the white-eared pocket mouse. This degradation reduces the availability of food and cover for the mouse, making it more vulnerable to predators and impacting its reproductive success.
These factors, combined with the white-eared pocket mouse's limited geographic range and low population densities, have led to its classification as a threatened species. Conservation efforts aimed at protecting and restoring its habitat, controlling invasive species, mitigating the effects of climate change, and preventing the spread of disease are essential for ensuring the survival of the white-eared pocket mouse.