Dusky-footed Woodrat

Neotoma fuscipes

This attractive indigenous rat has large round ears, a pleasant face, and a modest amount of fur on its tail. Woodrats are active mostly at night and seldom seen, but their houses are easy to spot. Look for a large pile of sticks in the chaparral or coastal sage scrub. A house can be 6 feet tall, and may have some of the interesting objects the owner has collected incorporated into the walls.

Fun Fact:
Woodrats are also known as packrats for their habit of collecting interesting objects.

What’s for Lunch:
Fruits, small bulbs, flowers, seeds, nuts, and acorns

Where’s Home:
A dome-shaped stick house in chaparral or coastal sage scrub