The house usually is built against a rock crevice, at the base of creosote or cactus, or in the lower branches of trees. Rock crevices appear preferred where available, but woodrats generally adapt to virtually any situation. Houses are used for nesting, food caching, and predator escape. Suitable nesting sites or nesting materials may limit distribution. Moderate to dense canopies preferred.
Territory probably equals home range.
Nesting is solitary. Females may breed at 2-3 mo of age. Competitors include cricetid and heteromyid rodents. Woodrat houses provide shelter for a variety of small vertebrates. Predators include snakes, owls, and predatory mammals.