Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1903-06-20
THE WOOD RATS INDUSTRY
Constructed House of kindling
wood aud Kept 1t In Repair.


wood aud Kept 1t In Repair.
In the natural history coming under
my obscrva ton | have not seen any
thing concerning the wood rat. 1t may
be that the rodent is too common to at
tract special attention, but am in
clined to believe that, if he is widely
distributed. he is rarely observed.
About two years ago became inter
ested in pair of wood rats that seized
upon and possessed themselves OF my
woodhousc for habitation. The house
is thirty feet long. and one end OF II IS
used for workbench, repair shop and
tool house. The other end is used main
ly for storing dry kindling wood and
small stove wood. The rats moved in
when was away for Il period, and the
pair. found good supply Of dry pine
sticks a foot to sixteen inches in length
split from inch boards These were or
various widths, from one to five inches,
and there were a number OF heaVy
sticks of scantlng in a corner. with
notable industry the rats had piled the
small sticks into a fairly regular pyra-
mid, using the heavy pieces they could
not move for foundation and frame,
adapting their architecture to the con-
ditions of the location with remark
able ingenuity.
Their architecture fitted in with the
landscape in the woodhouse 50 well
that il was some time before | noticed
that the kindling wood was methodlcal-
Iy placed. As wet weather came ana
the kindling was needed | frequently
took an armful into the Eouse, without
realizing that | was taking gargoyles
and cornices from private residence.
In removing the sticks often pulled
down a quantity Of the pile in select
ing. After doing this for some days l
bepan TO notice that each morning the
pyramid was reformed, the scattered
sticks collected and placed methodical-
liz. AS the wood was used the pyra-
mid grew smaller and smaller, but each
morning all the scattered sticks, except
sorne that became wedged and fasten-
ed in the larger and heavier wood,
would be found replaced upon the
apex Of the diminishing pile. When
the wood had been about half removed
T began TO get occasional glimpses or
the rats. When | removed sticks they
dodge1 in and out of the pile, as though
they would defend their castle to the
extenfbf their power.
The wood was never entirely re-
moved, and that which remained was
kept ina fairly shaped pyramid until
II was. not more than three feet in
diameter. The rats, Of which had
never seen more than two. became so
tame .tl,at they would remain in sight
on the sills near their house within an
arms length of me at times. Later IN
the season the mistress Of the pyramid
appeared with two young ones.
I,now began to miss some of my
portable property Files. small chlsels'
nails. measuring sticks. patterns pieces
Of heather and such articles would dis
..s-;esr from my 'vorkbenchs rhese
from time to time | would find mixed
in with the sticks in the building ma
teria1 used by the rats. have been III
formed this is one Of the traits OF the
animals. They are so excessively IN
dustrious that they annex almost any
thing they can carry or drag away
with very Indifferent IDEAS of property
rights or ownership. They are partial
TO bright and glittcring things. such as
bits of glass, tin and metal They
would doubtless acquire and hoard
money with almost trustlike persplcu
ity and acumen if they were not Sc
much addicted 10 twgs and kindlins
wood.-Forest and Stream.