The Stephens' Kangaroo Rat

The Stephens' Kangaroo Rat is yet another one of San Diego's Native animals. Known scientifically as the Dipodomys, this cute little rat is usually anywhere from ten to twenty centimeters, and their tail is usually equally long, or slightly larger. These rats are not like other rats, because they have very long hind legs. These legs make their name. These rats are known as Kangaroo Rats because they hop in a way that is very similar to the kangaroo, but no, they are not in any way related. These little guys live deep in burrows that they make. Primarily, they shelter them from heat and also from other predators. The Kangaroo Rat eats mostly seeds, leaves, stems, buds, some fruits and other insects too. They are very good at storing food as well. In their burrows, they usually dedicate one whole sections off to where they store the food that they gather. These little guys usually can be pretty colorful, ranging all from pretty much a pale white, to a sandy brown, to a brighter yellowish color. They really are cute little animals too. These rats are very lucky, and they do not have the worry of becoming one day extinct. They reproduce many many times, and there is not an issue with their population.
Although many people think that all rats are gross, these ones might just change you mind. These rats are pretty special, considering that they do not walk around like most other rats. If you have a fixed mindset about these little critters all being the same and gross, you might have to rethink that. Granted, seeing a little hopping rat might be pretty scary at first, but they are actually pretty friendly little rats. They do not interact much with humans, but it is a known fact that they really are just harmless little rats.