The Dusky-Footed Wood Rat

The Dusky-footed Wood Rat: A Record of Observations Made on the Hastings Natural History Reservation provides a detailed account of the dusky-footed wood rat, a rodent species studied extensively at the Frances Simes Hastings Natural History Reservation in California. Located in the northern Santa Lucia Mountains, the reservation has been a site for observing biotic changes and studying the behaviors of vertebrate animals, particularly mammals like rodents. The dusky-footed wood rat, known for its distinctive houses made from sticks, has shown a more stable population compared to other rodents, which is indicative of its successful adaptation to the brushland and woodland environments of the region. This book focuses on the animals' behavior, their interaction with their environment, and how individual wood rats maintain order in their population.

Through years of fieldwork and intensive study, the authors document the behavior of these animals, focusing on their responses to changes in their surroundings and interactions with other rats. By tracing individual rats over time, the study provides insights into their behavior patterns, habitat preferences, and reproductive cycles. The research, based on over ten years of continuous observation, reveals previously unexamined aspects of wood rat life that were unknown in earlier studies. This book also presents the complexity of wood rat distribution, habits, and life cycles, acknowledging that while some aspects remain elusive, a clear pattern emerges in their responses to the environment. The findings shed light on the species' behavior and ecology, offering valuable insights into how they thrive within their specific habitats.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1951.