8 NEBRASKAland • APRIL 2017
A Mammal Brief
By Lindsay Rogers
Primarily found in the
southeastern United States,
the range of the eastern
woodrat (Neotoma floridana)
extends into the
southern half of Nebraska.
This large woodrat species
builds large nests of sticks
to protect itself from
rain and cold temperatures.
Typically associated with eastern
woodlands, the eastern woodrat
can also be found in prairie and
grassland areas. Its nests are
often found near rocky outcrops
or under large logs.
Eastern woodrats breed multiple
times per year but the average litter contains only two young. The helpless, blind young immediately fasten
themselves to the mother's teats where they remain firmly attached for three to four weeks. When the mother
leaves the nest, young are often dragged unharmed along the ground while still attached to the teat.
As herbivores, they eat nuts, berries, seeds, stems, roots, and buds. They will occasionally eat insects. Starting
in the fall, they will store or cache food in their large nest for the winter months. They will also cache random
found objects including jewelry, bottle caps, bones, and broken glass. This hoarding behavior has earned them
the nickname of "pack rat." ■
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JON
FARRAR
PH PHOT PHO
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Lindsay Rogers is an outdoor
education specialist with the
Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission.
