Sean Kelly, age 15, of Spokane, Wash., for his question:
WHAT IS A PACK RAT?
The pack rat, alias the wood rat, is actually a vole ¬a ratty relative with a furry tail, large ears and a happy face. Without a doubt he is one of the most charming of the rodents, and he may be the outstanding genius of the whole clan. One might say that his greatest talent is in commerce, for of all things the pack rat is a born trader.
In pioneer days, a packman traveled the Western frontier with goods for sale, stashed in a pack on his back. Often he traded or bartered a precious cooking pot for a slab of bacon for himself. And sometimes in his lonely journeys he encountered a pack rat who also traded something for something else.
Chances are, the packman never saw the pack rat, for the furry little trader arrived like a thief in the night. His little heart yearned for a bright shiny treasure, such as a bit of glass or metal. A few nails would do just fine, or even a scrap of bright cloth. But a thief he was not, for he came prepared with something to exchange for what he took away.
A pack rat may leave a few bright pebbles, a bleached bone or some other object which he considers to be a fair trade. The treasure he removes is taken home to his elaborate burrow and displayed in his private museum. The nicest pack rat story concerns a miner. While he slept, a few worthless bits of metal were traded for a few nuggets of pure gold.
This tale may or may not be true. But certainly countless sleeping campers have been visited by pack rats, hoping to trade some attractive item for something else.
The little trader is about 9 inches long with a 9 inch tail, usually covered with fur. His fluffy coat is thick and silky, colored brown above and creamy white on his undersides. His home is an elaborate nest of twigs built on the ground. He has a separate bedroom, where he dozes during the daytime, and a storage room, plus that extra special room where he displays his treasures.
Usually he lives alone until the courting season, when he may travel half a mile to call on a female. Being almost voiceless, he drums his feet to attract her attention.
The young are born a month or so after mating, and often the male stays around awhile to help with the child care.