San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and its partners have established a third reintroduced population of endangered Pacific pocket mice at North San Mateo, a training area within Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
The new population adds to a long-running recovery effort. A first reintroduced population was established at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park in 2016, followed by another at Camp Pendleton in 2024.
Since the program began in 2006, the Alliance says it has released more than 500 Pacific pocket mice into new and existing populations across the species' native range.
The work is shared with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Geological Survey and Camp Pendleton. Partners are also protecting populations, restoring habitat and developing the science needed for recovery.
