Eastern woodrat facts for kids
The eastern woodrat (Neotoma floridana), also known as the Florida woodrat or bush rat, is a type of pack rat. These rats live in the central and Eastern United States. They build big dens that can be homes for many generations of woodrats. They also store food in hidden spots for the winter. Even though they are found in many places, their numbers have gone down in some areas.
Quick facts for kids Eastern woodrat |
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| Neotoma floridana smalli | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Neotoma
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| Species: |
floridana
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| Subspecies | |
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click to expand
N. f. attwateri Mearns, 1897
N. f. baileyi Merriam, 1894 N. f. campestris J. A. Allen, 1894 N. f. haematoreia A. H. Howell, 1934 N. f. illinoensis A. H. Howell, 1910 N. f. osagensis Blair, 1939 N. f. rubida Bangs, 1898 N. f. smalli Sherman, 1955 |
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Contents
About the Eastern Woodrat
What Do They Look Like?
The eastern woodrat is a medium-sized rodent. It is about 38 cm (15 inches) long and weighs between 217 and 333 grams. Its body is short and strong. The tail is very long, about 15–20 cm (6-8 inches).
Their fur is soft and gray-brown. It is darker on their back and lighter on their belly. Their feet are white. Males and females look similar, but males are usually a bit bigger.
Where Do They Live?
Eastern woodrats live across the southern and eastern United States. You can find them as far south as Florida and as far north as New York. They also live in states like Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. They can be found in many places, including woodlands, prairies, mountains, and swamps.
Even though they live in a wide area, there aren't many of them in one place. Their total population has been shrinking since 1982. This is mainly because humans are building more in their natural homes.
Woodrats do not hibernate (sleep through winter). They stay active even in cold northern areas.
Their Homes and Nests
Eastern woodrats like to live in wooded areas, swamps, and hedges. They build their nests in many different spots. These can include rocky cliffs, forests, abandoned buildings, and even piles of trash. In Texas, they often build homes around brush piles. In Kansas, they use limestone hills and tree bases.
Their nests are built from all sorts of materials. They use sticks, branches, rocks, and even old tin cans or glass pieces. Inside, they line the nest with soft things like dry grass or bird feathers. They pick up small items with their mouth. Bigger items are dragged to the nest.
A woodrat's "house" looks like it has only one entrance. But it actually has many secret escape routes. Each house can have up to two nests inside. However, usually only one woodrat lives in each home. These houses can be very large. They can be up to 4 meters (13 feet) long and 2 meters (6.5 feet) wide. Some are over 1 meter (3 feet) tall.
The shape of the nest depends on where it is built. It might be shaped like a pyramid or a dome. Nests are usually on the ground. But sometimes, they can be as high as 8 meters (26 feet) up in trees. These houses are great shelters. They protect the woodrats from changing temperatures and rain.
Woodrats often stay in the same place their whole lives. Many generations might live in the same nest. If a nest is empty, other animals might move in. These can include rabbits, mice, snakes, frogs, and insects.
Eastern woodrats are usually solitary (they live alone). They keep a distance from other woodrats. Females have smaller territories than males. A female's territory is about 0.17 hectares (0.4 acres). Males have larger territories, about 0.26 hectares (0.6 acres). Woodrats usually stay close to their nests, within about 21 meters (69 feet). They only go farther if they are looking for a mate or a special food.
How They Live
What Do They Eat?
Eastern woodrats eat many different things. They are opportunistic feeders. This means they eat whatever food they can find. Their diet includes nuts, seeds, fungi, buds, stems, roots, leaves, and fruits. Even though their nests are on the ground, they are good climbers. They can find food high up in trees.
Woodrats eat about 5% of their body weight in dry food every day. In summer, they mostly eat while they are out foraging. They bring only a little food back to their den for daytime snacks. Their weight doesn't change much from autumn to spring.
Woodrats are famous for their hoarding habits. They collect and store both food and non-food items. This is why they are also called "pack-rats." Starting in September, they gather and store food in their dens. This food helps them survive the winter. These stored food piles, called caches, can be very large. Some have been found with over 35 liters (9 gallons) of plant material.
They are very flexible with their diet. They eat almost any plant material. This includes leaves, roots, wood, bark, and seeds. They mostly eat green plants. But they also enjoy fruits, nuts, fungi, and ferns. Their food choices can change depending on the individual, the group, and the area. For example, in Texas, they love pecan nuts. In Tennessee, they store mint and beechnuts. In Pennsylvania, mushrooms are a favorite.
Acorns are a very important food for all woodrats. Oak trees grow everywhere they live. Acorns can also be stored for a long time without spoiling. Woodrats choose food based on how much energy it gives and how long it lasts. They tend to eat foods that spoil quickly. They store foods that last longer. This helps them avoid losing food to rot.
Sometimes, fungi grow on their stored food. But woodrats seem to have special bodies that let them eat food with fungi. Fungi can even make some foods more nutritious.
Even though woodrats are herbivores (plant-eaters), they might eat meat sometimes. Snakes, salamanders, mice, and even birds have been found in their stomachs. They also chew on bones. This might be to sharpen their teeth or to get minerals. They will even store dead animals if they find them.
Woodrats usually don't need to drink water. They get all the water they need from dew, juicy plants like succulents, and fruits. They can even survive droughts this way.
How They Reproduce
Eastern woodrats are usually aggressive towards each other. Older woodrats will chase and fight younger ones. They only become friendly during breeding season.
The breeding season depends on the climate. In warm places like Florida, they can have babies all year. In colder places like Kansas, they breed from early spring to mid-fall. A female can get pregnant again about a week after giving birth. They usually have two litters (groups of babies) a year, but can have up to three. Each litter has one to six young.
Baby woodrats are born with their eyes closed and not much hair. They immediately attach to their mother's teat. By day 8, they have most of their fur. Their eyes open wide around day 15. The young drink milk for 3–4 weeks. They become independent after 70–90 days. They keep growing until they are about 8 months old. Females can start having babies as young as 5 months old.
In safe places like zoos, eastern woodrats can live up to 8.6 years. But in the wild, they usually live about 3 years. Most woodrats die in their first year of life. One study found that out of 27 young woodrats, only 6 lived to be adults. Only 3 of those lived long enough to have babies.
Who Are Their Predators?
Many animals hunt eastern woodrats. Common predators include the great horned owl, spotted skunk, long-tailed weasel, red fox, raccoon, and various snakes like the timber rattlesnake. Woodrats try to avoid predators by being active mostly at night. They hide in their large dens during the day. Snakes often eat baby woodrats in their dens.
Parasites and Diseases
One common parasite of eastern woodrats is the botfly larva. Adult botflies lay eggs near the woodrat's den. The eggs stick to the woodrat's fur when it passes by. When the eggs hatch, the tiny larvae dig into the woodrat's skin. They live in the neck, chest, or belly until they grow. The lump they cause can be 15 mm (about half an inch) wide. But it doesn't seem to bother the woodrat much. About 16% of eastern woodrats have botfly larvae.
Raccoons can carry a parasite called raccoon roundworm. Woodrats might eat the eggs of this worm when they forage near raccoon latrines (poop spots). The worm larvae then travel to the woodrat's brain. This can make the woodrat weak, lose muscle control, and eventually die. This roundworm is a known cause of death for woodrats in several states. About 75% of woodrats in some areas can be infected.
Their Role in Nature
Eastern woodrat nests provide homes for many other creatures. These include other rodents, insects, reptiles, and frogs. When woodrats store and move seeds into their dens, they help spread seeds. This is important for keeping forest ecosystems healthy. Their poop also helps make the soil richer. Scientists have studied ancient woodrat poop piles (middens). These studies help us learn about how plants and environments have changed over time.
Woodrats and Humans
Eastern woodrats are sometimes seen as pests. They might try to get into houses, especially cabins in wooded areas, to find warmth or shelter. They can make nests out of mattresses and furniture. They might also chew on wires in cars and bring nesting materials inside. This can damage vehicles. Rarely, eastern woodrats can carry diseases that can spread to humans. The eastern woodrat does not have any economic value.
Protecting Eastern Woodrats
Most types of eastern woodrats are listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN. This means they are not in immediate danger of disappearing. However, one type, the Key Largo woodrat, is listed as "Endangered." While the species has never been super common, it is still found in many places.
At a local level, the eastern woodrat is listed as endangered or threatened in 5 of the 17 states where it lives. More research is needed to know their true numbers. All states where their population is declining are at the edge of the woodrat's range. The main way they are being protected is by saving their habitats in states like Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, and Florida.
What Threatens Them?
Several things can cause eastern woodrat numbers to drop.
- Cold Winters: Very cold winters can cause a big drop in populations. For example, severe winters in 1912 and 1918 reduced woodrat numbers in Illinois. Long, snowy winters in 1948 and 1949 might have killed many young and caused adults to starve in Kansas.
- Human Development: In recent times, cities and towns growing bigger have hurt woodrats. In South Carolina, lots of building and road expansion have destroyed their homes. This also separates groups of woodrats from each other.
- Food Shortages: Woodrats rely on stored acorns and nuts in winter. When gypsy moths caused a shortage of acorns and chestnuts in 1964 and 1965, many woodrats died.
- Raccoon Roundworm: As raccoons spread, more woodrats might get infected with the deadly raccoon roundworm.
How Can We Help Them?
In 2003, a program started in Florida to remove wild and stray cats from woodrat habitats. This has been very successful. Another way to help is to keep human activities away from woodrat homes. This also reduces problems like raccoons being present.
Eastern woodrats have been brought back to some areas, like Pine Hills in Illinois and some places in Missouri. Before bringing them back, scientists check for enough food, shelter, and no raccoon roundworm. It's also suggested to release more females than males. This is because one male can mate with many females. Using woodrats from different families helps them adapt and survive better.
