Bushy-tailed Woodrat

Habitat:

Frequently found in rocky montane regions, with a habit of taking up residence in abandoned or seasonally-inhabited human structures. Will also colonize abandoned mines.

Behavior:

Males are very territorial towards other males, but form small harems of female rats. True to their nickname - the packrat - their nests are made up of a large amount of collected materials, encased in a solid layer of rat urine and feces. These nests have the potential to last for thousands of years in the environment, and can be used as valuable paleontological evidence.

Diet:

Diet is largely plant-based, consisting of shrub and forb leaves, fungi, fruit, nuts and berries, and even pine needles, but like most rodents, they will opportunistically feed on insects when available.

Reproduction:

A single male will mate with multiple females sharing his range, from April through August. After a gestation period of roughly a month, an average of 3 young are produced, and will be weaned in another month, and sexually mature the following spring. Because of short gestation times and quick maturation, females are able to produce 2-3 litters in a year.

Associated Species:

Foxes, bobcats, owls and coyotes - basically any small to medium predator in their range - will predate upon bushy-tailed woodrats.

Sources: https://www.nps.gov/jeca/learn/nature/bushy-tailed-woodrat-neotoma-cinerea.htm, https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/520640, http://www.sibr.com/mammals/M128.html