In fact, while carrying one trophy, the rat may see another that is more attractive, and so puts down the first to pick up the second, since it can carry only one item at a time. Range Widely distributed throughout all the North American desert regions, north to Canada. Habitat Gravel desert lowlands, dry plains, brushlands and pinyon-juniper forests, from below sea level to 8,000 feet. They are found from deserts and forests to high, rocky mountainsides. There are 7 species Woodrats of the North American deserts.
Wood rats are pale buff, gray or reddish brown, usually with white undersides and feet.
They have relatively large ears and, normally, hairy tails. Behavior Woodrats live in nests built of plant material like branches, twigs, sticks and other debris. They are usually constructed in a tree or on the ground at the base of a tree or rocky ledge. Woodrats can become quite a nuisance, getting into everything from attics to car engines, stealing their treasures, damaging electrical wiring and wreaking general, noisy havoc. The nest provides both shelter from extremes of desert temperatures and protection from predators by using cactus pads and cactus spines in the construction.