On the threatened to be endangered list...

[GingerRose]

These are the 2 little girls.
Its hard to tell them apart.
They both weigh the same.
Their ears are starting to open up.
Their eyes are starting to develop the slits and occasionally I can see movement under the eyelids.. so cute.
They are starting to grab things with their hands, although very uncoordinated.
Those whiskers are getting longer. This species have the longest whiskers of the genus.
They are the second largest member of our *native North American rats..
I so hope these girls survive...


#1

#2

 

[GingerRose]

This is what an adult looks like...
Normally males reach 10-12 inch body with an 8 inch tail.. Females, only a bit smaller..
Not my photo, grabbed off of Google Images...

 

[GingerRose]

HAPPY UPDATE!!!

I am very pleased to say this...
My husband located a nest of Eastern Woodrats yesterday afternoon.

He was looking for a place to put up a new game camera he bought last year and misplaced it (LoL). He found it yesterday morning....
He found a great place and while he was cutting down some small brush and saplings, weeds and such.. he saw one of these big Eastern Woodrats that live on our property. (which is actually what is called a true PACKRAT). These rats are only a little smaller than the Allegheny and definately NOT on the decline.. He said he thought she looked like she had nipples... He followed her to her nest in an old barn on the back part of our yard, out of our main sight. He got me, showed me her nest...
Her rat pups seem to be around same age/size. We dont know for sure, but they are not so pink, getting some grey pigment, still hairless, eyes stull shut, ears still closed, all super close as the orphans.. I immediately took the orphans out and placed them about 2 feet away, where the momma rat could see or hear or smell, (whatever they do), the orphans. Within 5 minutes she had the orphans in her nest and my husband watched the camera from his phone while I got some MUCH needed sleep...
The momma has accepted the orphans and has been out three times to forage.
I left her a "thank you" treat and some shiny trinkets, and shredded tshirt material.. (not mine, dont want my familiar smell around, they need to stay WILD).
Packrats LOVE shiny trinkets.
So far so good.
Rat mommas have been documented by zoologists and biologists to be some of the BEST mommas on our planet.
Im so happy they have a momma!!!
The end.

 

[FunClucks]

That's wonderful!!! I'm so glad you were able to find them a good mom!!! What a blessing! That's awesome that your husband noticed her. I'm glad you're finally getting some sleep. Here's hoping they thrive!

 

[GingerRose]

That's wonderful!!! I'm so glad you were able to find them a good mom!!! What a blessing! That's awesome that your husband noticed her. I'm glad you're finally getting some sleep. Here's hoping they thrive!

Thank you.
Im almost positive they will thrive. They definately have a better chance now. A surrogate is always ideal for orphans, so hard to find unless you own pet rats... or know someone who does..
I am so thankful he found her and Im thankful for her also!!

 

[ColtHandorf]

Have you spied on mom and the babies with the game camera to see how she and the pups are doing?