Fragile beach mice survive hurricanes

[quaoar]

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1135160985210670.xml&coll=2

KATHERINE BOUMA
News staff writer

GULF SHORES - Stretches of dunes - once alive with plants, sand crabs, mice and insects - are flattened. Acres of evergreen trees are brown, killed by weeks of standing in saltwater.

But one vital sign still is strong in the land along Alabama's Gulf Coast that is supposed to be a refuge for wildlife. Scratches in the sand, no bigger than a pencil tracing, show biologists that tiny beach mice survived the brutal storms of the past two years.

The Alabama beach mouse, threatened with extinction for decades, hasn't given up as quickly as might be expected of a half-ounce creature with a nine-month life span.

At one time, Alabama beach mice populated the length of Alabama's Fort Morgan Peninsula, from Fort Morgan to Ono Island. They fed the owls and pygmy rattlesnakes, the red foxes and coyotes, and nearly anything else that hunts the beach at night.

[Spinzonner]

1. Yes, but their habitat

their cabanas, were destroyed.

:-)

[quaoar]

3. And....

their little surfboards were all washed away.

[Spinzonner]

4. And making it even worse

the biggest supplier of surfboard blanks has closed shop unexpectedly

Of course, for the mice, they might be able to find a few shavings lying around.

[azmouse]

2. Mice are hardy little creatures.

We live quite happily in the desert too! ;-)

[kysrsoze]

5. Rodents rule!

We've had pet rats and now have gerbils. They're fun, fascinating little creatures. You go, mice!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

6. Blessed are the meek

for they shall inherit the beach.

[geckosfeet]

7. Praise the Lord - and pass the cheese. n/t

[Mojorabbit]

9. Your post made me snort soda up my nose LOL n/t

[geckosfeet]

10. Oooo,, sorry. That's gotta smart. n/t

[HysteryDiagnosis]

8. Rodents United Against Natural Disasters..... rodents united against

gwb.