Most park visitors will probably never see a bushy-tailed wood rat, though people are familiar with them under their nickname, the “pack rat.” They are prominent residents of our parks, but are usually active only at night. The bushy-tailed wood rat is a large, handsome rodent. It grows to about eight inches long, with another six inches of “bushy” tail. The body is primarily pale grayish to buff with a white belly and feet. The tail is dark gray on the top and white toward the bottom.

As you hike through our parks, look closely in the undergrowth for rather large stick mounds, called middens. Materials used in construction may incorporate just about any object in the vicinity that they can carry – such things as bones, conifer cones, bits of rope, leather, hide, paper, shingles, wire, bottle caps and feathers. Ironically, mouse traps have also been discovered in these collections. These “houses” protect the rat from weather and enemies and is a center of activity. This area is also defended against other wood rats.

From this collecting instinct, the bushy tailed wood rat earned the pack rat nickname. It is also called the “trade rat” referring to its habit of picking up a new object before the one they were carrying is stashed.

Breeding occurs in May or June. Wood rats build a nest with dry grass, bark, moss and leaves. After about five weeks, three or four young are born. Since the species is solitary, the young disperse away from others and build their own houses or remodel those used by earlier generations.

The wood rat is active year-round. Diets vary, but wood rats eat just about any plant that grows in their territory.

Their main predators are coyotes, bobcats and owls during the night when wood rats are most active. Bulging eyes and relatively large scoop-like ears aid the wood rat in its nocturnal habits.

Because of this lifestyle, human interaction is quite limited. Most often, rat droppings near the entrance of a midden are the only evidence left for a trained eye in search of the species.