Peter Roy Alfred, Jr., Louisiana prisoner # 315023, seeks leave to appeal in forma pauperis the dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 suit arising from the seizure of a pair of hightop tennis shoes.

This court must examine the basis of its jurisdiction sua sponte if necessary. Mosley v. Cozby, 813 F.2d 659, 660 (5th Cir. 1987). A timely notice of appeal is mandatory and jurisdictional in a civil case. Bowles v. Russell, 551 U.S. 205, 207-13, 127 S.Ct. 2360, 168 L.Ed.2d 96 (2007). The notice of appeal in a civil action must be filed within 30 days of entry of the judgment or order from which the appeal is taken. 28 U.S.C. § 2107(a); Fed. R.App. P. 4(a)(1)(A). Alfred did not file his notice of appeal until over five months after the dismissal of his suit as frivolous.

Construing Alfred’s notice of appeal as a motion to reopen the appeal period under Fed. R.App. P. 4(a)(6), we hereby remand this case to the district court for the limited purpose of determining whether Alfred’s appeal should be reopened pursuant to Rule 4(a)(6). The district court is directed to return the case to this court for farther proceedings or dismissal, as appropriate, once the ruling has been made.

LIMITED REMAND.