TN10036 EASTERN WOODRAT NEOTOMA FLORIDANA
Physical Description: This large rat has total length 14.0-17.6 inches (355-447 mm), tail 5.8-8.3 inches (147-210 mm), and hind foot 1.3-2.0 inches (33-50 mm) *378* and weighs just over 1 pound *90*. It is grayish-brown with a white or grayish belly. The tail is shorter than the head and body and is bicolored (white beneath and brown above) *48*. Reproduction: Courtship is limited to mild boxing with male dominance apparently needed for successful breeding *313*. The breeding season has been variously reported as running from February- September *6037*, March-October *1116*, January to late fall *5136*, and February-August *5386*. There are 1-6 young per litter. Reported litter sizes range from 1-6 (usually 2-3) *6037* to 1-5 (usually 2) *5386*. The number of litters per year range from 2 to 4 *48,1116,6037, 5136,5386*. The gestation period is approximately 30-39 days *48,6037*. This rat is polyestrous with estrous cycles lasting 4-6 days *313*. The female cares for the altricial young. Young are weaned at about 4 weeks *313*. Young first molt at 5-6 weeks old starting at the abdomen, chest, throat, and progressing dorsally *313*. Puberty for females is 5-6 months (weight 160 g.). Males generally obtain maturity by spring of their first year *313*. Puberty is delayed in those who reach appropriate age and stature during the winter *313*. Behavior: The home range of males is 0.75 acres; of females, 0.5 acres. The rat usually stays within 200 ft of the nest *6037*. Home ranges overlap *1116*. Home range is rarely more than 100 yds (91.5 m) across. This rat builds a 'house' of sticks, leaves, and grass on the ground, in rock crevices, in a tree, or in an underground burrow. The nest is inside the house *6037,5136,5386*. The rat builds a nest of sticks, rocks, grasses, forbs, twigs, leaves, bark, bones, and debris *48*. Nests range in size up to 3 x 7 x 1 ft *5136* or 1.5 x 4 x 3 ft *6037*. This rat uses the same nest all year, maybe for its entire life *6037,5136,5386*. It is basically solitary except during breeding season. The woodrat is active throughout the year *313*. It is nocturnal and most active in the first hours of darkness. Fifty-four percent of its activity was reported between 2030 and 2230 hrs *313*. This rat tends to be more active on nights of low light *313*. It defends a nesting territory. This rat is a good climber *313*. In a breeding captive colony, females defended territories and were aggressive during the spring and summer months, whereas males were aggressive and territorial in the fall and winter *313*. Urination and defecation is very localized, and locations are maintained away from living areas *313*. This species stores food in compact galleries at top of the house beginning in Sept. or Oct. *313*. Their houses have nests, tunnels, and food stores and are decorated with rocks, bones, metal, or trash on top *6037,5386*. A typical house is 3.9 ft (1.2 m) in diameter and about 3.3 ft (1 m) tall, constructed primarily of twigs and sticks *313*. The house generally contains two or more nests near the center of the structure. Nests are spherical (8.1 inches or 205 mm in diameter) and composed of dry grass, shredded bark, and feathers *313*. Distinct cleared paths lead away from house structure *313*. Origin: This species is native to North America *313*. Limiting Factors: It is limited by the amount of cover in an area *6037,1116, 5136*. Population Parameters: The sex ratio is 1:1. Aquatic/Terrestrial Associations: The woodrat is never found at low altitudes, and shuns civilization. By preference, it confines itself to rock ledges, caves, and extensive bare patches in the mountainous region *90*. Another favorite haunt is the cliff-like outcroppings of sandstone rock that appear here and there along our mountain ridges *131*. The woodrat is also abundant near the shrubby and wooded edges of talus slopes. If a few black birch trees have managed to establish themselves well out among the rocks, they can also be found there *124*. The woodrat may establish itself in a hunter's cabin that has been temporarily abandoned *90*. This rat occurs in a variety of habitats: lowland hardwoods, marshes, mountains, coastal plain, swamps, and grasslands *313*. Predators include great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius), long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata), pilot black snake (Elaphe obsoleta), and timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) *5386,5136,6037,313*. The great horned owl is probably its most dangerous predator *90*. Woodrat houses are utilized by spiders, white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus), eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), and other species of snakes, lizards, and toads *6037,313* Physical description: This is a large rat, with a total length from 355-447 mm, a tail from 147-210 mm, and a hind foot 33-50 mm *378*. This species is grayish brown with a white or grayish belly, and the tail, which is shorter than the head and body. It is bicolor white beneath brown above *48*. Reproduction: This species breeds in the spring, summer, and fall. It has normally 2-4 young per litter. They have 2-3 litters per year. The gestation period is 30-37 days *48*. It is polyestrous with and estrous cycles lasting 4-6 days *313*. The young are weaned at about 4 weeks *313*. The young first molt at 5-6 weeks old starting at the abdomen, chest, and throat, and progressing dorsally *313*. Puberty for females is 5-6 months (weight 160 grams), and males generally obtain maturity by the spring of their first year *313,8905*. Behavior: The home range is rarely more than 100 yards (91.5 meters) across. This species builds the nest of sticks, rocks, bones, and debris *48*. They are basically solitary except during breeding season. They they are active throughout the year *313*. This species is nocturnal with the greatest activity in first hours of darkness. 54% of the activity is reported between 2030 and 2230 *313*. They tend to be more active on nights of low light *313*. In a breeding captive colony, females defended territories and were aggressive during the spring and summer months, whereas males were aggressive and territorial in the fall and winter *313*. They are good climbers *313*. Urination and defecation is very localized and locations are maintained away from living areas *313*. This species stores food in compact galleries at the top of the house beginning in September or October *313*. Courtship is limited to mild boxing with male dominance apparently needed for successful breeding *313*. A typical house is 1.2 in diameter and about 1 meter tall, constructed primarily of twigs and sticks *313*. The house generally contains two or more nests near the center of the structure. The nests are spherical (205 mm in diameter) and composed of dry grass, shredded bark and feathers *313*. Distinct cleared paths lead away from house the structure *313*. They often will collect and store small strange objects that they find such as bottle caps, bones, coins, shotgun shells or rings *8905*. Origin: This species is native. Limiting factors: Predators include great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius), long-tailed weasel (Mustala frenata), pilot black snake (Elaphe obsoleta), and timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) *313*. Woodrat houses are utilized by white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus), eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) and other species of snakes, lizards, and toads *313*. Aquatic/terrestrial assciations: This species occurs in a variety of habitats, lowland hardwoods, marshes, mountains, coastal plain, swamps, and grassland *313*. Physical description: This is a large rat, with a total length from 355-447 mm, a tail from 147-210 mm, and a hind foot 33-50 mm *378*. This species is grayish brown with a white or grayish belly, and the tail, which is shorter than the head and body. It is bicolor white beneath brown above *48*. Reproduction: This species breeds in the spring, summer, and fall. It has normally 2-4 young per litter. They have 2-3 litters per year. The gestation period is 30-37 days *48*. It is polyestrous with and estrous cycles lasting 4-6 days *313*. The young are weaned at about 4 weeks *313*. The young first molt at 5-6 weeks old starting at the abdomen, chest, and throat, and progressing dorsally *313*. Puberty for females is 5-6 months (weight 160 grams), and males generally obtain maturity by the spring of their first year *313,8905*. Behavior: The home range is rarely more than 100 yards (91.5 meters) across. This species builds the nest of sticks, rocks, bones, and debris *48*. They are basically solitary except during breeding season. They they are active throughout the year *313*. This species is nocturnal with the greatest activity in first hours of darkness. 54% of the activity is reported between 2030 and 2230 *313*. They tend to be more active on nights of low light *313*. In a breeding captive colony, females defended territories and were aggressive during the spring and summer months, whereas males were aggressive and territorial in the fall and winter *313*. They are good climbers *313*. Urination and defecation is very localized and locations are maintained away from living areas *313*. This species stores food in compact galleries at the top of the house beginning in September or October *313*. Courtship is limited to mild boxing with male dominance apparently needed for successful breeding *313*. A typical house is 1.2 in diameter and about 1 meter tall, constructed primarily of twigs and sticks *313*. The house generally contains two or more nests near the center of the structure. The nests are spherical (205 mm in diameter) and composed of dry grass, shredded bark and feathers *313*. Distinct cleared paths lead away from house the structure *313*. They often will collect and store small strange objects that they find such as bottle caps, bones, coins, shotgun shells or rings *8905*. Origin: This species is native. Limiting factors: Predators include great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius), long-tailed weasel (Mustala frenata), pilot black snake (Elaphe obsoleta), and timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) *313*. Woodrat houses are utilized by white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus), eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) and other species of snakes, lizards, and toads *313*. Aquatic/terrestrial assciations: This species occurs in a variety of habitats, lowland hardwoods, marshes, mountains, coastal plain, swamps, and grassland *313*.
References for Life History Codes
48, 90, 313, 378, 1116, 6037, 5136, 5386, PA8234, PA8809, 8905
Comments on Life History Codes
Puberty is delayed in those who reach appropriate age and stature during the winter *313*.