Don Balke: White-footed Mouse and American Elm

Artist: Don Balke
1932 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1979
Image Size: 14 by 12 inches
Overall Size: 23 by 20.125 inches
Medium: Water Color on Water Color Paper

Immaculately clean and unusually quiet, lovable White-footed Mice live only a few months, but frequent mating insures the species' survival. The female of this widespread species stays near the nest much of the time, usually feeding and administering tender care to her youngest children. Just as soon as this most recent litter becomes old enough to fend for themselves, the female mates again. After mating, males and females stay together for a short time, defending their territory and conducting nocturnal sojourns to explore the country and search for food. Eventually the female begins lining the nest with soft pliable plants, the male's signal that a new litter will sooon be born and he must be on his way. Soon after he leaves, the female bears one to nine blind, helpless youngsters. The babies mature rapidly and at the end of two weeks they are completely weaned. At the end of a month they are fully mature and ten weeks after birth, they start raising their own faimilies. Grey furred at birth, White-footed Mice quickly change their coats for the adult's brown fur with a white belly. Thus camouflaged in eastern fields, White-footed Mice eat grain, fruit, seeds and nuts. To many farmers' delight, they also helpfully consume grasshoppers and other insects that damage crops. This artwork depicts the adorable White-footed Mouse with his large brown eyes and big, translucent ears. Always hungry, he nibbles grain while he sits among the fallen leaves of Massachusetts's graceful American Elm tree.

This art was originally published in the limited edition collection of philatelic proofcards issued by Fleetwood® and the National Audubon Society for the Wildlife of the 50 States.

Artwork Copyright © 1979 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB05761

US$ Price: $1,250.00

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