Rodent FAQ
Rodents
Rodents cover close to half of the mammal species, and include mice, rats, squirrels, gophers, beavers, prairie dogs, groundhogs and others. Many rodents are small and will vary in sizes and colors depending on the species. Rodents will have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which will constantly grow, and so the rodent will gnaw on objects to keep them down to a more managable size. They are used for cutting wood, biting fruit, or predators. Rodents lack canines and nearly all rodents will feed on plants or seeds. Some will eat insects and fish.
Depending on the species of rodent, they will either be nocturnal or diurnal, being active during the night or day. Many rodents will alter their habits based on the active times of surrounding predators.
Rattus rattus, the black rat, and Rattus norvegicus the brown rat, are the most important of the "true rats" genus. They are the most common type of rat incountered, and are seen as opportunistic survivors. The typical lifespan of a rat is two to five years, averaging at three years. While some rats are bred for domestication and kept as pets, wild rats living in cities or an unhealthy environment may suffer from parasites, mites, poor diets, and may have diseases, though they are not generally spread to humans. Rats are very intelligent and may make nests in the walls of homes, or in dark secure places.
Gophers are small burrowing rodents, that are usually around 15 centimeters long with a tail of 7 centimeters and weigh about half of a pound. The average lifespan of a gopher is 2-3 years. Gophers are famous for digging underground tunnels and subterranean chambers, which can disrupt gardens, commercial agriculture, and landscaping. The community, or towns, they create can be large, sometimes having a population in the thousands, if in an open enough area such as a meadow or prairie. Gophers are not nocturnal, and will usually eat shrubs and vegetables.
Many rodents may contain rabies, a lethal disease that is carried in the saliva and transmitted by bites. Wild rodents should not be approached or handled except by professionals.
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