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
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Before 1932, the Pacific pocket mouse was abundant in California, playing an important role for plant life by dispersing seeds and encouraging growth.
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Julia Daye, Sacramento Bee, 31 May 2024
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
Pat, who is small even for a pocket mouse, is one of 165 mice in the program.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2023
Pat, who weighs about the same as three pennies, was born on July 14, 2013, in the first year of the Pacific pocket mouse conservation breeding program at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
—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
Shier established the organization's Pacific pocket mouse conservation breeding program.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 9 Feb. 2023
Shier created and oversees the Pacific pocket mouse conservation breeding program.
—Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 8 Feb. 2023
Pat was born July 14, 2013, and was in the third litter born in the Pacific pocket mouse conservation program, which was established by Shier the previous year.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2023
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Julia Daye, Sacramento Bee, 31 May 2024
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
Pat, who is small even for a pocket mouse, is one of 165 mice in the program.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2023
Pat, who weighs about the same as three pennies, was born on July 14, 2013, in the first year of the Pacific pocket mouse conservation breeding program at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
—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
Shier established the organization's Pacific pocket mouse conservation breeding program.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 9 Feb. 2023
Shier created and oversees the Pacific pocket mouse conservation breeding program.
—Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 8 Feb. 2023
Pat was born July 14, 2013, and was in the third litter born in the Pacific pocket mouse conservation program, which was established by Shier the previous year.
—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 2 Jul. 2025.
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