Perdido Key Beach Mice
Captive Breeding
Weathering the storm
In September 2004, as Hurricane Ivan barreled through
the Gulf of Mexico, 12 wild beach mice were collected
from Perdido Key State Park and placed at the University
of South Carolina’s Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center for
safekeeping. Some of the mouse population on Perdido
Key survived the storm, as did those placed at the center,
and in 2007, the captive mice and their progeny were
transferred to four carefully selected Florida zoos.
Through experimentation
with husbandry techniques,
Brevard Zoo rapidly increased
the population of Perdido Key
beach mice.
12 founder
mice captured
from the wild
in 2004
11 offspring
and 1 founder
arrive at
Brevard Zoo
in 2007
10 wild mice
are brought
to Brevard Zoo
in 2015
229 mice
have been born
at Brevard Zoo
88 mice sent to
other organizations
for outreach
and education
109 mice remain
at Brevard Zoo for
outreach, education
and breeding
32 mice from
Brevard Zoo have
been released
to the wild
9