To ID packrats, place some stainless steel screws or other small shiny
objects
around where you think you have packrats aka woodrats. When they disappear
you'll know what you have! The screws can be retrieved at the nest site.

Hey, has anyone reported seeing PINE GROSBEAKS exhibiting a behavior
reminiscent of packrats hoarding shiny objects? In early July (weekend of
the 4th), 1976, at Section 3 Lake (near N. Bdry. Goat Rocks Wilderness,
Yakima County, WA), we watched as male Pine Grosbeaks picked up discarded
broken-off pull-tabs and gave them to the females, who would then fly off
with the pull-tabs. We presumed the pull-tabs were incorporated in their
nests somehow. Perhaps they took them to a 'LEK'? Maybe we were watching
something similar to 'lekking' behavior at this old campfire site?

John & Loraine Allinger
jonymike at pacifier dot com