Rodent Facts

Do dormice really sleep a lot?
     Dormice do sleep through the winter. This hibernation may start in October and last until April, longer in cold climates. The dormouse sleeps in a cosy nest on the ground or in a burrow. The dormouse normally weighs up to 25 kg (1 oz), but it puts on extra fat before it hibernates.

Where do porcupines live?
     There are two groups of porcupines. New World porcupines live in North and South America and live in trees. Old World porcupines live in Africa and parts of Asia. All porcupines are covered in long sharp spines, which look fearsome and help protect them from their enemies. If attached, the porcupine runs backwards toward its enemy, driving in its sharp spines.

Why do beavers build dams?
     Beavers build their homes – or lodges – in streams or rivers. But first they need to build a dam to make an area of still water, or the current would wash the lodge away. With their huge front teeth, the beavers cut down trees to build the dam. They plaster the sides with mud and fill gaps with stones and sticks. The lodge is built of sticks behind the dam and has an underwater entrance. The beavers sleep, store food and care for their young in the lodge. They have to keep repairing both the dam and the lodge with more sticks and mud. Beavers live in North America and in parts of Europe and Asia.

Which is the smallest rodent?
     One of the smallest rodents is the pygmy mouse of North America. This is only about 10 cm (4 in) long, including its tail, and weighs 7 g (1/4 oz). The harvest mouse of Europe and Asia is only slightly bigger.

What do beavers eat?
     Beavers eat plant food. In spring and summer they feed on fresh green leaves and grasses. In autumn they gather woody stems to eat. Some of these are stored under water near the lodge to keep fresh for the winter months.

How many kinds of rodents are there?
     There are more than 1,600 different species of rodent, including squirrels, hamsters and beavers as well as rats and mice. Rodents live all over the world in every kind of habitat from the icy Arctic to scorching deserts and humid rainforests.

Why do rodents get long in the tooth?
     The two sharp teeth at the front of the rodent’s jaw – called incisors – are the ones it uses for gnawing. A rodent’s incisors get worn down as it gnaws tough food, but they keep on growing throughout its life.

Which is the biggest rodent?
     The largest rodent in the world is the capybara, which lives in South America. It measures up to 1.3 metres (53 in) long and weighs up to 64 kg (140 lb). capybaras live by water and feed on grasses.

How big is a beaver?
     A fully grown beaver measures up to 1.7 metres (67 in) long, including its long flat tail. It weighs as much as 27 kg (60 lb) and is the second heaviest rodent in the world. The beaver swims with the help of its webbed back feet and its large flattened tail.

Can flying squirrels really fly?
     No, but they can glide some distance from tree to tree. When the flying squirrel leaps into the air, it stretches out the skin flaps at the sides of its body. These act like a parachute, enabling it to glide gently down from one branch to another.

Is a guinea pig a rodent?
     A guinea pig is a rodent. Wild guinea pigs, also known as cavies, live in South America, where they feed on leaves and grasses. Most cavies are about 22 cm (9 in) long, but one type, the long-legged, hare-like mara, is up to 75 cm (30 in) long.

When is a dog really a rat?
     A prairie dog is actually not a dog at all. In fact it’s a type of rodent, and lives in North America. Each prairie dog family, called a coterie, makes a burrow of connecting chambers and tunnels. A coterie contains one adult male and up to four females and their young. Groups of coteries live neat each other in huge areas of burrows called towns. Prairie dogs feed mostly on grasses and other plants. While the family is feeding, one prairie dog keeps watch. It barks loudly to warn the others of any danger.