You’ve heard of the basic rodents, of course: mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs. Did you know beavers are rodents too? So are porcupines, chipmunks, and lemmings—plus over two thousand species more.
Yep, the animal group rodentia (roh-DENT-cha) is the biggest category of mammals.
Huge variation exists among rodents. But not every creature makes the cut. You’ll get invited to the Rodent Family Reunion only if . . .
- you have the right teeth. You must have one pair each of top and bottom incisors. And these incisors must never stop growing. No wonder rats gnaw! They have to keep those babies the right size. (Imagine this: Instead of having to brush your teeth each day, you had to chew wood to keep them from growing down to your toes!)
- you don’t live in Antarctica. That place is so cold even rats won’t live there!
Has anyone ever told you that rabbits are rodents?
They’re not. They’re lagomorphs.
Rascally Rodents on the Nuisance List
Rodents cause considerable trouble. They damage billions of dollars’ worth of crops each year—gobbling tiny plant shoots. Rodents spoil food with their droppings. They gnaw through electrical cables, which can cause fires. They also spread diseases to humans. (Ever heard of the Black Plague? You can thank rodents for that!)
And of course, they invade homes. Small house mice move in a pack—a pack of trouble. Mice nibble food people leave behind, and they multiply fast. Norway rats can chew through lead pipes and often sneak indoors. Got rats in the attic? Those are likely roof rats. Also called black rats, these can climb so well they even make their homes in the tops of trees.
Rodents aren’t all bad, of course. Some can be eaten or used for fur. And nearly all will give your cat something to do.
Recommended Reading: For more about rodents, read the Redwall series by Brian Jacques and The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo.
