Of mice and men

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — Federal wildlife officials have designated 6,200 acres in coastal Alabama and the Florida Panhandle as critical habitat for three endangered beach mouse species.

Property owners or developers could be required to survey property for the protected mice before construction or to redesign a project that would harm the nocturnal creatures, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in a ruling Thursday. ...

The FWS estimates the cost of saving the three subspecies of beach mice at $93.4 million to $174.9 million over the next 20 years, nearly all of that in costs paid by landowners or developers who must alter or restrict their beachside projects.

You can learn more about the Perdido Key beach mouse here. Below is a pic of the little critter.