Mammal · GBIF taxon 2438458
Allegheny Woodrat
Neotoma magisterAlso known as Allegheny Packrat, Appalachian Woodrat
Allegheny woodrats inhabit rocky cliffs, boulder fields, and caves across the Appalachian Mountains, building large stick nests in dark rock crevices. Known for collecting bright or unusual items like bones, shiny foil, and acorns, they meticulously cache food for winter survival. Populations have sharply declined in northern regions due to forest habitat fragmentation, chestnut loss, and a parasite spread by raccoons.
NocturnalMammalReclusive
Licensed reference(c) Alan Cressler, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Oak Acorns
- Forest Fungi
- Wild Berries
Predators
- Great Horned Owl
- Timber Rattlesnake
- Bobcat
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, loss of American chestnut, raccoon roundworm parasite
HabitatsRocky cliffs, talus slopes, boulder fields, and limestone caves
Life span3–4 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCricetidae
- SpeciesNeotoma magister
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of a sharp bite if cornered or handled; observe from a respectful distance.
- What to notice
- Recognized by dense brownish-grey fur, white feet, and a fully furred, bicolored tail distinct from invasive rats.
- Support conservation
- Maintain distance around cliff crevices and caves to avoid disturbing fragile breeding colonies and winter caches.
Responsible observation
- Rock Slope Safety: Avoid disturbing loose talus slopes and boulder fields where nests are hidden.
- Flashlight Observation: Search rocky crevices at dusk using red-filtered light to minimize disturbance.
- Leave Nesting Sites Intact: Never move stick nests or cached items found inside cave entrances.
Competitor (c) Kristof Zyskowski, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kristof Zyskowski · cc-by
Predator "Great Horned Owl, the first I've seen in decent light this year. Didn't want to disturb it for too long so we continued along the trail" by island deborah- is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Disease Vector Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative
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