Eastern Woodrat: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Creatures of the Night · day 7 of 7

Five facts

1. Its stick house can be up to 4 m long, 2 m wide and over 1 m tall. It shows only one door, but hides several escape routes.
2. It builds with almost anything: sticks, rocks, tin cans and bits of glass, lined with dry grass, bark and bird feathers.
3. A woodrat may spend its whole life in one place, and many generations can use the same nest. Empty nests become homes for rabbits, mice and snakes.
4. From September it stores food for winter, which earned it the nickname pack rat. One store held as much as 36 L of plant material.
5. It usually does not need to drink. Dew, juicy plants and fruit give it enough water, even during droughts.

The quiz

1. What is special about the entrance to a woodrat's house?

• It is always underwater
• It is sealed with mud every morning
• It has one visible door but several escape routes (correct)
• It faces the sun at all times

Despite one visible entrance, the nest has multiple ways out.

2. Which of these can a woodrat use to build its nest?

• Tin cans (correct)
• Fishing nets
• Seashells only
• Spider silk

Its nests can include sticks, rocks, tin cans and glass shards.

3. What often happens to an empty woodrat nest?

• It is washed away by rain
• Other animals such as rabbits move in (correct)
• The woodrat burns it down
• It turns into a pond

Rabbits, mice, snakes and others often take over empty nests.

4. Why is the eastern woodrat also called a pack rat?

• It travels in large packs
• It carries its babies on its back
• It sleeps in packed groups
• It collects and stores food and other items (correct)

Its habit of collecting and storing things gave it that name.

5. Where does the woodrat usually get its water?

• From dew, juicy plants and fruit (correct)
• Only from rivers
• From melting snow only
• From rain puddles inside its nest

Dew, succulents and fruit give it the water it needs.

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