Found only on a small island off the coast of Florida and Alabama, the endangered Perdido Key beach mouse is essential to the integrity of its coastal ecosystem. These little mice function as ecosystem engineers through seed dispersal. When left uneaten, seeds stored by these tiny rodents may grow into adult plants that help stabilize the dunes in which they are buried. Stronger dunes provide greater protection to local infrastructure during hurricanes. Their burrows also help aerate the soil, stimulating further plant growth, and act as habitat for other native species.

Beach mice are threatened by habitat loss, introduced predators and a population decline resulting from 2004’s Hurricane Ivan.

With help from state and federal agencies and other zoos, East Coast Zoological Foundation has developed a breeding program at Brevard Zoo through the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s SAFE program to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse safeguard population. Many of the offspring have been released in Perdido Key to help their counterparts in their native range rebound from hurricanes.

Read the latest news on this conservation breeding program on our blog.