Species MammalsWhite-throated Woodrat

White-throated Woodrat

Neotoma albigula

CommonMammal
Illustration of White-throated Woodrat (Neotoma albigula)

The White-throated Woodrat builds large stick houses—sometimes several feet tall—in desert scrub and rocky areas of the American Southwest and Mexico. Its middens, which can accumulate resin-preserved plant material for thousands of years, are invaluable archives for paleobotanists reconstructing ancient climates. Woodrats are often called 'pack rats' for their habit of collecting shiny objects.

Habitat
Desert shrublands, rocky slopes, and cactus flats
Diet
Cactus pads, seeds, leaves, and berries
How common
Common

Best time to see a White-throated Woodrat

The best time to see a White-throated Woodrat is April–September, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 397 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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