Our Ambiguous Relationship with Rodents

“Squirrel!” Lots of them in our neighborhood, including the unfortunate individual I have nicknamed “Stumpy.” His tail is only about an inch and a half long, which gets in the way of squirreling properly.

Rodentia. We have a hugely ambiguous relationship with the animals in this family which, in addition to rats and mice also include:

·       Capybaras

·       Chinchillas

·       Guinea pigs

·       Hamsters

·       Pack rats

·       Beavers

·       Caries

·       Porcupines

·       Degus

·       Dormice

·       Gerbils

·       Maras

·       Lemmings

·       Prairie dogs

·       Chipmunks

·       Marmots

·       Agoutis

I’m probably missing a few. Rodents are a large family. The distinguishing feature that makes a rodent a rodent are upper and lower pairs (single) of incisors, separated by a gap from the molars, which grow continuously. Note that rabbits and hares are not rodents, but lagomorphs, because they have two pairs of incisors.

Most rodents are small (capybaras and beavers being notable exceptions). And they have a relationship with us that is truly ambiguous.

They are heroes and helpers, villains and victims, as well as popular pets, and let’s go into that a little more.