HI -

A couple days ago, my wife and I were resting from doing some yard work. All of a sudden a small rodent with a very long tailed hopped across our yard and hid in the shade of the wheel barrow. Although I do not recall ever seeing a kangaroo rat, I figured that must be exactly what it is since it looked and acted quite similar to a tiny roo. I looked it up in my Peterson's mammal guide and decided it must be an Ord's Kangaroo rat based on the picture. The map, however, showed this mammal living no closer than SW Washington.

Is there someone out there who can help me determine if this, in fact, is what I saw?

Thanks
Mike Wile
redmond WA
425-503-5766
mikewile at comcast.net