Southern Plains woodrat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern Plains woodrat |
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| Southern Plains Woodrat, Luna County | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Neotoma
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| Species: |
micropus
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The Southern Plains woodrat (scientific name: 'Neotoma micropus') is a type of rodent. It belongs to the Cricetidae family, which includes many mice and rats. You can find these woodrats in northwest Mexico and in the United States. In the U.S., they live in states like Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
There's a special kind of Southern Plains woodrat called the White Sands woodrat (Neotoma micropus leucophaea). This subspecies is white and lives only in White Sands National Park in New Mexico.
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Where Southern Plains Woodrats Live
Southern Plains woodrats make their homes in dry, brushy areas. They also like rocky places. They often choose areas with lots of cactus, mesquite trees, and thick bushes.
These woodrats build their dens under shrubs and cacti. They especially like prickly pear cacti. Their dens are like small houses. Each den has a big main room for a nest. It also has smaller rooms around it for storing food. Female woodrats often use the same den for their whole adult lives.
Sometimes, other small animals share these dens. These can include desert shrews or assassin bugs. The main part of their "house" can be quite large. It can be about 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) high. They build it using sticks, pieces of cactus, thorns, and other bits of nature.
What Southern Plains Woodrats Eat
The Southern Plains woodrat is a vegetarian. This means it only eats plants. They enjoy eating the leaves of prickly pear cacti. They also munch on plants like agave and sotol. The seeds, pods, and nuts from mesquite trees are also a favorite food.
Who Eats Southern Plains Woodrats
Many animals hunt and eat Southern Plains woodrats. These predators include:
- Hawks
- Owls
- Foxes
- Raccoons
- Coyotes
- Bobcats
- Snakes
Western diamondback rattlesnakes especially like to eat these woodrats.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Female Southern Plains woodrats usually have litters of two or three babies. Their pregnancy lasts about 30 to 39 days.
Woodrats living in the northern parts of their range breed in early spring. They typically have one litter of babies each year. However, woodrats in the southern areas have a longer breeding season. This means they can have more litters throughout the year.
