Little Kangaroos
Here is a dead kangaroo rat on our site! We have yet to see a live one . . .
The last light of dusk has disappeared from the horizon. A light breeze gently rustles the sagebrush, and soft, silver moonlight filters through their branches to reveal a small hole under a rock.
A moment later, a small nose and some trembling whiskers appear at the entrance to the hole. Then, two tiny front paws; a pudgy, furry body; two large hind legs; and a long, tufted tail emerge. Hopping over to some grass, he begins nibbling on the seeds.
What is this strange creature? He is the Dipodomys merriami.
Merriam’s Kangaroo Rats live throughout the Southwestern United States on hard soils (Whitaker 456). The smallest of the kangaroo rats, they reach lengths of 8 ¾ - 10 ¼ inches, including the tail, and eat the seeds of ocotillo, creosote, mesquite, and grass (Whitaker 445, 446).
Perhaps a kangaroo rat’s most remarkable characteristic is its large hind feet, which enable it to leap almost 9 feet (Whitaker 436)!
The rat’s name is a misnomer, since this is not a rat at all. It is much more closely related to ground squirrels and gophers (Whitaker 435).
©2026 by Joshua Venturo
The state park we stayed at in Nevada -- a perfect kangaroo rat habitat!
Interesting Fact: Most kangaroo rats do not drink – they instead absorb water from the seeds they eat.
Isn’t it amazing all the animals God has created? This week, take some time to see what animals you can find wherever you live. You’ll be amazed how many you find!
Photos by Jenny and Joshua Venturo
Information from: Whitaker, John O., Jr. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1980.
