Ord's Kangaroo Rat

Dipodomys ordii

Although they are quite docile when handled and readily make good pets, kangaroo rats are belligerent in the wild. They have no qualms about defending themselves against any foe. They have been seen to defend their burrows against rattlesnakes by kicking sand at the snake. These rodents have powerful hind limbs with which they can leap distances up to two metres. Like the other members of their family, the kangaroo rats prefer sandy, arid grasslands and are therefore limited to the Great Sand Hills area of southwestern Saskatchewan. Kangaroo rats feed heavily upon seeds during the fall and winter months, but switch to insects such as moths and grasshoppers during the summer.