The others are equally appropriate. Although found in many sections of the country and ranging from sea level almost if not quite to timberline the pack rat is usually a forest dweller, always a wilderness dweller, and because of that justifies the name woodrat. The names pack rat and trade rat come from the peculiarities of behavior rather than habitation. Trade rat because of their interesting, though troublesome, habit of carrying off whatever small object which to them, and also to the victim, seems less desireable. The same collection habit has also given them the name pack rat.
Pack rats are exceedingly industerious individuals and work from dusk until dawn if uninterrupted.
A favorite winters evening diversment enjoyed by Park Rangers is trapping woodrats or sitting on a box in the attic taking pot shots at their nefarious little neighbors by candle light. They are omniverous feeders but vegetarians by preference and though they much prefer some sort of fresh hay they will occasionally gnaw a boot or a saddle. Vernon Bailey, who knows all about pack rats, insists that they are splendid meat and classes them with quail as gastronomic delecies.