I'll offer the possibility of Bushy-tailed Woodrat, largely because the size seems to
rule out the other likely subjects, most importantly, the Deer Mouse which the description
otherwise fits. A description of the tail would help.

Kelly McAllister
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Olympia, Washington
Reply to: mcallkrm at dfw.wa.gov

On Wed, 31 Dec 2003, Rahne Kirkham wrote:

> Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2003 11:16:48 -0800
> From: Rahne Kirkham <rahnefall at sbcglobal.net>
> To: tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Mystery mammal id help needed
>
> Actually, it's a mystery mouse. Two days ago at my niece's feeder on the
> hill west of Auburn, the birds were disturbed by a very large mouse who ran
> down the branch they were on, shimmied down to the hanging feeder, snacked a
> minute, then jumped to the feeder on a post nearby. He snacked there, made
> his way back to the branch (again dislodging the birds) and went his way. He
> was sandy brown with a white tummy and very round ears. Obviously not a
> house mouse but didn't look like any of the mice on the Burke Museum PNW
> mammals site. Not a rat (I know rats having lived with pair). Smaller than a
> squirrel but larger than a chipmunk.
> Thanks.
> Rahne Kirkham
> Federal Way, Washington
> "I am in Love and out of Him I will not go."
> C.S.Lewis "The Great Divorce"
>
>