the magazine y - Desert Magazine of the Southwest

By GRACE P. NICKERSON
Photograph by P. V. Sambson
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MONG desert dwellers he is known as pack or trad;
rat. To the scientists he is Neotoma. Hopi Indians
call him Kee-hua'-cahl'-a.
But regardless of the name, he is one of the desert's most
interesting and intelligent little creatures. The name packrat
is not entirely fair—for he is not a true rat W. A. Chalfant
says:
"Despite the name commonly given him, the neotoma is
slid to have no family connection with the house rat (Mi/s
liattus). He will not remain in a habitation when the other
species appear, though he makes it his bus ness to drive off
other small rodents."
The neotoma is unlike the common rat in appearance. It
has a gentle rabbit-like face, large black eyes and bat-like
ears. Its soft grey fur resembles that of the Andean chinchilla,
which stands high among animal aristocracy because of the
beauty of its furry coat.
The neotoma is a rodent. It has two l.rge incisor teeth
in each jaw, separated by an empty space from the molar
teeth, as has the squirrel, marmot and beaver.
Because of the arrangement of teeth whicli has given them
the ability to cut and carry—and they certainly do cut and carry—the
neotoma has been dubbed packrat. Due to its tender
skin and small size, it is a mystery to science how these little
animals carry the vicious joints of the cholh cactus so often
found placed in position to guard their nests.
Many strange stories—both fact and fiction—
have been told about the little denizen of the
desert commonly known as the packrat. He
oiten invades the camps and cabins of desert
dwellers—but he is never a thief. He always
lugs in a stick or stone or some other object to
replace the one taken away. If he gets the best
of the bargain sometimes, it merely is because
he has not been educated to civilized standards
of value.
According to environment the neotoma differ in their
method of nest building, having ever in mind protection
from their natural enemies. Those in the desert, or scantily
treed region, often select sites beneath large rocks, or among
bayonet pointed yucca or cacti.
The nests are made of a strange mixture of materials,,
yet are well arranged, clean and without odor. Large nests
have been found to have several hallways or tunnels connecting
a number of compartments, each for a distant use. One
compartment for storage of food, one for sleeping and a nest
for the young, another for excreta.
The neotoma is attracted to bright shiny objects and sometimes
within a nest is found an assortment of pretty buttons,
cuff links and even gold nuggets for which he has traded,
without the consent of the former owner, a pebble, a stick or
some other worthless thing. Occasionally, when on a trading
expedition it leaves valuables and takes things of less value.
This strange habit of trading has given the neotoma the
common name of trade rat.
Like many of the other small denizens of the desert, the
packrat is seldom seen except at night. With the twilight
hours, it comes forth in quest of food, and where it has access
to a camp or cabin may be heard at any hour of the night
rummaging in pantry or foodbox.
22 The DESERT MAGAZINE