Its typical habitat is sparse grassland, sloping areas in ravines, road verges and field edges.

[3] The great jerboa has three types of burrows, permanent ones for summer and winter and temporary retreats.

[3] Breeding takes place in late spring and summer during which time there may be two litters, each of about three to six young.

It has become extinct in the Moscow district where dachas have been built and other man-made alterations have occurred to the landscape.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature have listed it as being of "least concern" but thinks populations should continue to be monitored.