Montana Field Guide

Bushy-tailed Woodrat - Neotoma cinerea

The bushy-tailed woodrat (the legendary pack rat of western stories) grows to approximately 15 inches and 11 ounces in Montana. Together with its flat, squirrel-like tail, long full whiskers, large hairless ears, and protruding eyes, its size makes it easy to recognize. Its coloring is lead gray on the back and outside and white, pinkish or buff on the feet, ears, and belly (Foresman 2001). It may also have black or dark brown hairs on the back, giving it a darker appearance. Juveniles can have blue-gray fur on top (Kritzman 1977).

Montana Range

Non-migratory.

Occurs in crevices where there are large amounts of sticks, leaves & other debris used to build nest. Rockslides, rocky slopes, abandoned homesites, badlands. Occas. lodges nest in tree forks high above ground (Hoffmann and Pattie 1968, Adelman 1979, Dood 1980).

Evidently not extremely selective in its diet of foliage, fruits and seeds of shrubs & forbs, conifer & fungi. Stores food for winter consumption (vegetation) (Jones et al. 1983).

A noisly pest in cabins sometimes - rummages around pilfer- ing small items. May drop an item to take a desirable item. Builds nest of sticks, bones, etc. (Jones et al. 1983).

MT breeding season not known. May span the warmer months, or may be more restricted. In N latitudes possibly only 1 litter produced/year (Jones et al. 1983).