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Home/Species/ Bushy-tailed Woodrat

Neotoma cinerea

(Ord, 1815)

Bushy-tailed Woodrat

G5Secure Found in 65 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.101806
Element CodeAMAFF08090
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilyCricetidae
GenusNeotoma
Other Common Names
bushy-tailed woodrat (EN) Rat à queue touffue (FR)
Concept Reference
Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-04
Change Date1996-11-12
Range Extent Comments
Western North America, from southeastern Yukon and westernmost Northwest Territories southward through British Columbia and western Alberta to northern Arizona and New Mexico, east to the western Dakotas (Smith 1997). See Grayson and Livingston (1989) for a discussion of high-elevation records (3648 m and 4342 m).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Alpine to Sonoran life zones. Inhabits mountains, cliffs, talus slopes, caves, and rock outcrops, both in forests and open deserts; also in deserted buildings and mine shafts. Young are born in nest within den built of sticks among rocks or in old building or mine shaft.

Ecology

Most individuals occupy separate dens. Male may exclude other males from small rock outcrop inhabited by multiple females (Escherich 1981). Home range size in Alberta averaged 6.1 ha for males, 3.6 ha for females, much larger than for other woodrat species; females moved up to 470 m from the nest (Topping and Millar 1996). Average population density is about 1 per 20 acres (Banfield 1974).

Reproduction

Breeding peaks in spring. Gestation lasts about five weeks. Up to 2-3 litters/year. Litter size is about 3-4. Births occur April-August in California. Young males disperse by 2.5 months, many females breed in natal area. Commonly 1 adult male with 1-3 adult females (Escherich 1981).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - ConiferWoodland - ConiferShrubland/chaparralDesertAlpineBare rock/talus/screeCliff
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
North DakotaSNRYes
AlaskaS4Yes
NebraskaS3Yes
WyomingS5Yes
NevadaS4Yes
South DakotaS5Yes
WashingtonS5Yes
OregonS5Yes
UtahS4Yes
New MexicoS4Yes
MontanaS5Yes
Navajo NationS4Yes
ArizonaS5Yes
IdahoS5Yes
ColoradoS5Yes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
SaskatchewanSUYes
AlbertaS4Yes
Yukon TerritoryS3Yes
Northwest TerritoriesSUYes
British ColumbiaS5Yes
Roadless Areas (65)
California (17)
AreaForestAcres
Callahan FlowModoc National Forest6,618
Castle Crags AShasta-Trinity National Forest113
Castle Crags BShasta-Trinity National Forest1,619
Dobie FlatModoc National Forest15,079
DomeStanislaus National Forest11,085
EagleStanislaus National Forest16,116
East ForkShasta-Trinity National Forest6,201
East YubaTahoe National Forest17,968
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Hall Natural AreaInyo National Forest5,236
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
LavasModoc National Forest25,864
Mt. HoffmanModoc National Forest9,780
Mt. OlsenInyo National Forest2,161
Nevahbe RidgeInyo National Forest302
Slide CreekSix Rivers National Forest11,458
Tioga LakeInyo National Forest829
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
NeedlesPayette National Forest131,279
Montana (15)
AreaForestAcres
Allan Mountain (01946)Bitterroot National Forest104,184
Big Snowy Mountains WsaLewis and Clark National Forest88,003
Cabinet Face East #671Kootenai National Forest50,326
Cattle GulchBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest19,390
East PioneerBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest145,082
Evans GulchLolo National Forest8,059
Government Mountain #673Kootenai National Forest10,090
Jerico MountainHelena National Forest8,445
Maple PeakLolo National Forest6,469
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
Sheep MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest31,584
Silver KingBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest64,289
VigilanteBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest15,893
West Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest133,563
New Mexico (1)
AreaForestAcres
Cruces BasinCarson National Forest5,244
North Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Long X DivideDakota Prairie Grasslands10,099
Oregon (8)
AreaForestAcres
BuckhornWallowa-Whitman National Forest17,180
Cook RidgeWallowa-Whitman National Forest19,617
Hebo 1aSiuslaw National Forest13,930
MarshWinema National Forest1,226
Mountain SheepWallowa-Whitman National Forest19,457
Sky Lakes AWinema National Forest3,940
Sky Lakes BWinema National Forest9,615
Wind CreekMt. Hood National Forest5,438
Utah (6)
AreaForestAcres
418002Uinta National Forest19,152
418017Uinta National Forest19,631
418040Uinta National Forest1,702
Dairy ForkManti-Lasal National Forest30,222
FishhookDixie National Forest12,959
White PineWasatch-Cache National Forest1,942
Washington (12)
AreaForestAcres
Abercrombie - HooknoseColville National Forest33,862
Blue SlideWenatchee National Forest17,505
ChelanWenatchee National Forest74,650
EntiatWenatchee National Forest72,617
Glacier Peak LMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest14,084
Goat Rocks AdjWenatchee National Forest6,108
Liberty BellOkanogan National Forest108,495
Long SwampOkanogan National Forest66,344
Mill Creek Watershed (WA)Umatilla National Forest16,747
Pasayten RimOkanogan National Forest17,074
Rock CreekWenatchee National Forest32,239
TumwaterGifford Pinchot National Forest8,676
Wyoming (4)
AreaForestAcres
Laramie PeakMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest28,608
Little BighornBighorn National Forest133,949
South Beartooth HighwayShoshone National Forest105,570
Teton Corridor TrailheadsBridger-Teton National Forest286
References (32)
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