Illustration of pocket mouse
pocket mouse
noun
: any of various nocturnal burrowing rodents (family Heteromyidae) that resemble mice, live in arid parts of western North America, and have long hind legs and tail and fur-lined cheek pouches
Examples of pocket mouse in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Named for its two-footing hopping movements, the giant kangaroo rat is the largest member of the family that includes kangaroo mice and pocket mice.
—
Sarah Linn, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
An environmental group managing an open space preserve on the Dana Point Headlands — an area ringed by walking trails that is also home to the endangered Pacific pocket mouse — has been told by a city commission that its request to reduce public access will require further environmental study.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025
Since 1932, the Pacific pocket mouse population took a massive plunge, eventually presumed to be extinct for 20 years.
—Julia Daye, Sacramento Bee, 31 May 2024
Shier established the organization's Pacific pocket mouse conservation breeding program.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 9 Feb. 2023
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance announced Wednesday that a Pacific pocket mouse named Pat — born July 14, 2013, at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park under a conservation breeding program — received Guinness approval as the oldest living mouse in human care at the age of 9 years and 209 days.
—Camille Fine, USA TODAY, 9 Feb. 2023
Pat, who is small even for a pocket mouse, is one of 165 mice in the program.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2023
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Sarah Linn, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
An environmental group managing an open space preserve on the Dana Point Headlands — an area ringed by walking trails that is also home to the endangered Pacific pocket mouse — has been told by a city commission that its request to reduce public access will require further environmental study.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025
Since 1932, the Pacific pocket mouse population took a massive plunge, eventually presumed to be extinct for 20 years.
—Julia Daye, Sacramento Bee, 31 May 2024
Shier established the organization's Pacific pocket mouse conservation breeding program.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 9 Feb. 2023
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance announced Wednesday that a Pacific pocket mouse named Pat — born July 14, 2013, at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park under a conservation breeding program — received Guinness approval as the oldest living mouse in human care at the age of 9 years and 209 days.
—Camille Fine, USA TODAY, 9 Feb. 2023
Pat, who is small even for a pocket mouse, is one of 165 mice in the program.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Pocket mouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pocket%20mouse. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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