On the "rat" question:
I wouldn't just say it sounds like a "juvenile rat". I would specify
"Norway (or Black Rat?)" as it seems reasonable to call a Bushy-tailed
Woodrat a "rat". While I'd love to think it was a Bushy tailed I also
would expect it was a Norway without info that would distinguish it as
otherwise ie the bushy tail, the nest, the urine post or packrat behavior of
gathereing shiny objects. I've never seen the Bushy-tailed and would love
to see one esp in western WA.

Stewart Wechsler
west seattle
ecostewart at quidnunc.net


-----Original Message-----
From: TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu
[mailto:TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu]On Behalf Of Michael Donahue
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2003 3:58 PM
To: Tweeters
Subject: Re: mammal ID


I hate to rain on this interesting discussion on mammal ID, but I think it's
highly likely that the critter in question was a juvenile rat. The original
description "bigger than a chipmunk but smaller than a squirrel" sounds just
right for a young rat.

Mike Donahue
Seattle


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