

They then recycle the water repeatedly and probably pee reluctantly, and when they do, it's enough to gag a maggot. Pack rats do not need to drink water, but rather get what they need from the spinach, lettuce, peas and corn they eat in your garden. Marilyn Miller of SE Bend caught him plundering her kitchen garden, an unfortunate habit that pack rats cannot seem to break.

No, "green-handed" would be a more accurate. Have you ever seen a guiltier look in your life than the one you find on a pack rat's face? That poor bushy-tailed pack rat was caught red-handed. When pack rats, or woodrats, nest in buildings, they may utilize available foods within the building, but most often they continue to feed outside.Marilyn Miller's bushy-tailed packrat on its way to another home. Evidence that you have pack rats are signs of gnawing and fecal pellets. Pack rat nests can also harbor diseases other and pests such as kissing bugs, brown spiders, mice and scorpions. They may take up residence in parked vehicles, gnawing on wires and other mechanical components. Pack rats seek opportunities to nest in cars, A/C units and pool equipment and will chew through wiring creating thousands of dollars of damage. Pack rats may also shred upholstered furniture and mattresses for lining nests. Not only do pack rats, or woodrats, damage and destroy landscaping, they can also chew through wiring and spoil food. Pack rats can cause extensive damage to your property. Nationwide they are considered a pest of very minor occurrence however, locally they may be relatively significant pests. Rarely do pack rats become numerous enough to cause more than very limited damage to flower or backyard vegetable gardens. It is possible for dens to circle small trees and shrubs, but is not common. Pack rats live alone except when mating or rearing young. One animal may inhabit several nests, and in good feeding areas a den may be occupied for several years or a lifetime. Pack rat dens are commonly located on the ground and measure 3 to 5 feet in height and diameter.
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How to Identify Pack Rat Infestation and Damage They also may be attracted to human food supplies in buildings. Their food is largely determined by varying local conditions and consists mainly of a variety of green vegetation including grass, leaves, fruit, nuts, small bulbs, bark, dry seeds and fungi. Wood rats climb readily and are chiefly nocturnal occasionally they can be observed during daylight. In houses, pack rats are active at night, searching for nest material and food, such as seeds, fruits and nuts. They can also be quite vocal and boisterous. They are particularly fond of shiny objects. A peculiar characteristic is that if they find something they want, they will drop what they are currently carrying and "trade" it for the new item. As the name "pack rat" implies, they have a tendency to pack away small objects such as jewelry, utensils, can tabs, and other items. Pack rats are known for their characteristic searching of materials to bring back to their nests creating an ever-expanding collection. Their clean appearance, soft fur and well-haired ears help distinguish this species from both Norway rats and roof rats. Pack rats have soft, fine fur, large long ears, and hairy tails that are blackish or buff-colored, and paler on the underside.
