I looked up...buncha stuff up there too. How long had it been there? I don't remember to look up often enough, so I don't know.
A nest above.
And a nest below. Perhaps you do not find this as riveting as I do. Seriously, though. What the heck?
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| Wikipedia pic. (This guy is nocturnal & I am unwilling to sit out there at night to get my own photo.) |
John tells me that this is the work of a species of rat native to western Oregon and parts of California, the Dusky-footed Wood Rat. Not the nasty-looking Norway rat with its teeth and bare tail, sneaking over on ships and so forth, no. This fellow has furry ears and tail and has survived against owls, hawks, bobcats and coyotes for a long time.
The Dusky-Footed Wood Rat is a pack rat, but you might have
guessed that from her giant house. Lady rats live on the ground, the
fellas live up in the branches. The pile on the ground looks too well organized to have fallen from above, although that may have been what happened.
I guess I should put out something shiny for them, so that they can carry it off to one of their houses. Also, I should put out bay leaves, because in California they collect them and line their houses with dozens of fragrant leaves to repel fleas.
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| Just like this sign. Don't like diamonds, not really. |
Lover of shiny things and bay leaves, I am beginning to wonder if this is my totem animal, not the tortoise I always thought I was.
I hope you'll be able to see it at some point. What a curious find.. its nests. We've been lucky to have flying squirrels visit us at night. Nocturnal critters are such a treat.
ReplyDeleteAnd you can have more than one totem. :)
I would love to see one of these tawny little guys. Maybe some evening before it gets totally dark?
DeleteFlying squirrels are adorable-not sure if they live around here, but we had them in the South.
Oh wow, a new critter to me. It is kind of cute.. She has a big nest there.. Great find. Enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteI've seen their nests before, but never looked into the critters to find out who they are, so this is a new animal for me too. The nests are enormous.
DeleteIs the poor lady relegated to the ground in order to be the first eaten, thus giving the male time to escape? Is nature that unkind to the rat-girls?
ReplyDeleteRight? I thought that too at first, but then read how hawks and owls go after the tree-dwellers, so...I don't know...I guess you take your chances anywhere. The nests look too shoddy to stay aloft, so the wind must be a constant problem up high. Apparently some nests are just for storing stuff. Like extra closets.
Deleteit is too cute! quite the hoarder, too, apparently!
ReplyDeleteYeah. I need to provide some hoardable stuff. Something shiny that won't cause trouble.
DeleteThat's an interesting find. I don't blame you for not waiting into the night for its appearance. Though it is quite cute.
ReplyDeleteGives me something to check on twice a day. Maybe I'll see the little guy.
Deletedefinitely give the little girl and her fella some bay leaves. and a shiny thing or two wouldn't hurt either. I think our totems change as we grow and change. definitely turtle for me when I was younger. in fact, a counselor once described my behavior when faced with conflict as 'turtling', ducking into my shell. now though, I don't think the turtle fits so much. spider is one now and perhaps snake according to Reya, after my snake bite.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to collect some stuff today and leave it near the nests. We'll see.
DeleteI bet it's true that our totems and symbols change with age. Life isn't static, so why should they be? Turtling behavior. I do that.
I hope you put out bay leaves. The very thought is lovely.
ReplyDeleteI just did! Bay leaves, a pop-top tab, a handful of acorns, some fresh leaves, a handful of acorns, and a green bean. We'll see what they like best.
DeleteHow interesting. Are they vermin like their urban cousins? They look cute. I hope you put some food out for them. :-)
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London./
Guess it depends on one's definition of vermin, but these guys are more like quiet, secretive squirrels. They don't try to move into buildings or raid garbage cans, so I guess they're pretty good neighbors. :)
DeleteSomeday! That rat isn't so ugly. Kinda cute. At a distance, that is!
ReplyDeleteThe furry ears, tail, and dark feet make him pretty cute. There's a youtube video of one that somebody tamed for a pet. Maybe not such a great idea.
DeleteI can see that the tail does indeed have fur, but all in all, I would still have to say that it's not up the standards of their arboreal cousins.
ReplyDeleteYes, not so furry as one might like, but better than stark naked. I would also like to see a higher quality nest, but I guess the strategy of building a gigantic mound of debris kind of works for them.
DeleteOh my. What a super large house for such a small creature.
ReplyDeleteIt's a mansion of twigs.
DeleteNever knew about this animal. Very interesting!
ReplyDeleteMaybe you have a version of this on the east coast, too. I don't know.
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