# Eastern Woodrat (*Neotoma floridana*) The Eastern Woodrat is a small, furry animal that loves to build cozy nests in trees and bushes. They are great at climbing and often collect shiny things to decorate their homes! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Pack Rat ![Eastern Woodrat](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Neotoma_floridana_smalli_close.jpg&width=800) Photo: "Photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service", Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neotoma_floridana_smalli_close.jpg) ## Appearance The Eastern Woodrat has soft, grayish-brown fur on its back and sides, contrasting with a pure white belly and feet. It has large, dark eyes and prominent ears, along with a long, often bicolored tail that is furry, not scaly like other rats. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Cricetidae - **Genus:** Neotoma ## Interesting facts - Their big ears can hear tiny sounds, helping them sense danger quickly. - They often decorate their stick nests with berries and leaves! - They use strong incisor teeth to chew through tough plant stems and nuts! - Woodrats store acorns and seeds, creating secret food pantries for later. ## Special abilities - **Master Builder:** Eastern Woodrats can build complex stick and debris nests because they need safe, hidden homes from predators. - **Collector King:** Eastern Woodrats have a habit of collecting shiny or unusual objects that helps them reinforce their dens. - **Night Navigator:** Eastern Woodrats can see well in low light because of their large eyes, helping them find food and avoid danger in the dark. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 30-45 cm - **Weight:** 0.2-0.45 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-3 years - **Speed:** 18 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-4 - **Gestation:** 30-38 days ## Diet & Feeding They are plant-eaters that love leaves, fruits, and seeds from different plants. - **Primary Foods:** Leaves, Acorns, Seeds, Berries, Fungi - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — hunts Eastern Woodrats at night - **Eaten by:** Eastern Ratsnake (*Pantherophis obsoletus*) — preys on young and adult woodrats - **Eats:** [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) — relies on its acorns for winter food - **Eats:** [Shagbark Hickory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shagbark-hickory) (*Carya ovata*) — enjoys the nutrient-rich nuts ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a woodrat, enjoy watching it from a distance and don't try to touch it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eastern Woodrat? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Eastern Woodrat? 30-45 cm ### How much does Eastern Woodrat weigh? 0.2-0.45 kg ### How long does Eastern Woodrat live? 2-3 years ### How fast can Eastern Woodrat move? 18 km/h ### What does Eastern Woodrat eat? They are plant-eaters that love leaves, fruits, and seeds from different plants. ### Where is Eastern Woodrat usually found? Forests ### How does Eastern Woodrat hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Chilocco Indian Agricultural School](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chilocco-indian-agricultural-school) — Oklahoma, US · Campus ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Eastern Woodrat: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-woodrat)