On January 31, the Wildlife Center admitted an Allegheny Woodrat from Crozet, Virginia. The woodrat had taken up residence in a local homeowner's basement during winter and was discovered when the homeowners, Nancy and Chris, started finding objects strewn across the basement floor, including a pencil, a stick, leaves, and a stuffed animal.
“We were baffled at first, but picked everything up and carried on. It wasn’t until the next day, when it happened again, that we realized it was a woodrat,” said Nancy. “Chris had read about them years ago, growing up in Scotland. He remembered the quote that 'they always leave something when they take something.'”
Allegheny Woodrats – also called packrats – are medium-sized rodents that have a habit of collecting and caching non-food items, such as buttons, coins, and candy wrappers, which they use to help build their nest. Woodrats were once common throughout many states in the Midwest and East Coast of the United States, but their population has declined significantly.
Once Nancy realized what was living in their basement, she did a little research. “We looked up woodrats and learned that they were endangered [in some areas]. We were worried about how she would do outside in the cold, so we let her stay.”
The couple decided to purchase a night vision camera to watch the woodrat at night, but when they reviewed the footage, they noticed that only one of her eyes reflected light. Concerned that the woodrat was injured, they captured her and brought her to the Center for a checkup.
Upon admission, the vet team thoroughly examined the woodrat. While the small mammal appeared mostly healthy, vet staff noted a small opacity in the center of the woodrat's right eye, which was confirmed to be a cataract. This cataract was likely the result of a previous injury and rendered the woodrat mostly blind in that eye.
Veterinary staff placed the woodrat on crate rest, keeping a close eye on her via camera during the next two weeks. Staff hoped the injury would heal on its own, but the cataract remained unchanged. To alleviate any pain or discomfort, the vet team decided to surgically remove the eye on February 18th. The woodrat has since recovered well from the surgery and received pain medication and antibiotics to support the healing process.
Normally, the Center is unable to release mammals with only one eye, as it would significantly hinder their ability to survive in the wild. However, after staff and biologists discussed additional options, they decided to present the woodrat with a new opportunity: instead of returning to Crozet, this woodrat will start a new chapter of her life and will travel all the way to the Toledo Zoo in Ohio!
While the Allegheny Woodrat population in Virginia remains stable, the species is classified as endangered in Ohio and many other states along the Eastern seaboard. At the Toledo Zoo, this woodrat will participate in a special breeding program, where her offspring will eventually be released into the wild in various locations to help bolster local populations.
“We are excited for the opportunity to have this woodrat serve as an ambassador for her species at Toledo Zoo,” said Dr. Cross, the zoo's Director of Vertebrate Conservation. "We look forward to continuing our support of Allegheny Woodrat conservation and hope our efforts can aid in their recovery.”
The woodrat transfer will take place this spring once Center and zoo staff coordinate transport plans. Once transferred to the zoo, the woodrat will be under the expert care of their team and free to arrange and re-arrange her collected cache in her new home, all while playing a part in helping to save her species.