Scott Eisen/AP
Reintroduction biologist Allison Sacerdote-Velat prepares to adjust a radio collar that was put on a meadow jumping mouse at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, July 19, 2013.
Scientists at the Chicago zoo are raising meadow jumping mice and releasing them into the wild to help restore dwindling Midwestern prairies.
Scott Eisen/AP
Sacerdote-Velat and wildlife biologist for Lake County Forrest Preserve Tim Preuss prepare to release a meadow jumping mouse at Rollins Savanna in Grayslake, Ill., July 24, 2013.
Right now, biologists there say only one percent of historical prairie grasslands remain in Illinois. Scientists hope that mice will help to restore life and vitality to the prairie lands.
Scott Eisen/AP
Sacerdote-Velat moves a radio tracking collar over a meadow jumping mouse's nose at the Lincoln Park Zoo, July 19, 2013.
Once the mice reach adulthood, researchers anesthetize them and attach tiny radio collars so they can track their movements in the natural habitat.
Scott Eisen/AP
Sacerdote-Velat holds a container with a meadow jumping mouse inside at Rollins Savanna in Grayslake, Ill., July 24, 2013.
She and other scientists released several mice in late July at the Rollins Savanna forest preserve in Lake County. They hope the mice will mate and distribute the grassland seeds they eat to help spread plant life.
Scott Eisen/AP
Linsdey Gordon sets up a radio collar tracking device in Grayslake, Ill., to test the collars placed on the released meadow jumping mice, July 24, 2013.
Trackers will likely find that some mice will end up as food for owls, coyotes and other predators.
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Sacerdote-Velat lowers a container holding a meadow jumping mouse into a cage at Rollins Savanna in Grayslake, Ill., July 24, 2013.
"We need to restore certain wildlife species in order to keep the ecosystem functioning," she says.
Scott Eisen/AP
Tim Preuss, Lindsey Gordon and Allison Sacerdote-Velat carry containers of meadow jumping mice at Rollins Savanna before releasing them in Grayslake, Ill., July 24, 2013.
Scott Eisen/AP
A meadow jumping mouse stands on the edge of a container while being released at Rollins Savanna in Grayslake, Ill., July 24, 2013.
Scott Eisen/AP
Sacerdote-Velat adjusts a radio collar prior to putting it on a meadow jumping mouse at the Lincoln Park Zoo, July 19, 2013.
Scott Eisen/AP
Sacerdote-Velat attaches a radio collar to a meadow jumping mouse at the Lincoln Park Zoo, July 19, 2013.
