help identifying yard rodents

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-11-2008, 09:11 PM
  #1  
TECH Addict
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
slayer_taunu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Dallas, TX / Boston, MA
Posts: 2,169
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default help identifying yard rodents

so i was working on the yard the other day, and i stumbled upon a rodent nest! at first i thought they were rats, and today i went to go take another look and i'm not so sure that they are rats because of the coloring and the tails. i thought mice/rats were always uniform in color, but these have a white stripe on their heads. the tails (which you cant see in the pics) is a short fluffy looking thing, as opposed to a long pink tail. they are still babies, so its hard to tell.

i'm just trying to figure out if they are pests like rats and should be killed before they end up in the house, or if they are ok animals like rabbits or something and i can just let them do their thing...

here are a few pics... i cant get a good face shot of them, but lemme know what you guys think. and FYI: those arent spots in the 4th pic, they got wet from the sprinklers







Old 06-11-2008, 09:14 PM
  #2  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (1)
 
Sarge_13's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Schertz, Texas
Posts: 2,222
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

The ears make me think a rabbit but...I dunno I'm definitely not an expert.
Old 06-11-2008, 09:27 PM
  #3  
On The Tree
iTrader: (48)
 
SLV_WS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Stafford, TX
Posts: 113
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post

Default

I was going to possum at first, but the last picture really looks like a baby rabbit. You will know soon enough. If its a possum let me know and one of our boxers would love to come play.
Old 06-11-2008, 09:30 PM
  #4  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (8)
 
1meantransam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Houston/Florida.Currently FL
Posts: 2,138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

my girlfriend thinks it's one of these http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinchilla
Old 06-11-2008, 09:32 PM
  #5  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (31)
 
TexasVortexx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Waxahachie, Texas
Posts: 557
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

They appear baby rabbits to me
Old 06-11-2008, 09:32 PM
  #6  
Staging Lane
iTrader: (2)
 
SuIcIdAlPoNtIaC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Fort Worth
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Looks like a chinchilla to me...If the pics were better I could find out.
Old 06-11-2008, 09:35 PM
  #7  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (8)
 
1meantransam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Houston/Florida.Currently FL
Posts: 2,138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

yep, gf says chinchilla to
Old 06-11-2008, 09:37 PM
  #8  
TECH Addict
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
slayer_taunu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Dallas, TX / Boston, MA
Posts: 2,169
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

rabbits are a high probability since i have rabbits in my back yard... this is the front yard though, so i thought it to be odd that they'd nest so far away from where they live.

rabbits only eat soft plants though, right? just wondering, cuz i thought i saw a few acorns mixed in with the nesting material. it is under a liveoak tree though, so they might have just fell there. speaking of nesting material, it consisted mostly of fur and dead grass... which i guess i should go back out there and replace the nesting material since i dont think i'm really interested in exterminating these anymore.

they are significantly larger today than they were yesterday, but still a little smaller than the average hamster... i'll take a few more pics tomorrow.
Old 06-11-2008, 09:49 PM
  #9  
TECH Addict
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
slayer_taunu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Dallas, TX / Boston, MA
Posts: 2,169
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

the article on chinchillas states "chinchillas are born fully furred and with eyes open. Litters are usually small in number, predominately twins".

these have their eyes still closed, and there are at least 4 in that hole.
Old 06-11-2008, 11:28 PM
  #10  
Staging Lane
iTrader: (2)
 
SuIcIdAlPoNtIaC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Fort Worth
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Maybe try putting a glove on and pick one up and take a pic of it that way?
Old 06-12-2008, 12:36 AM
  #11  
TECH Enthusiast
 
Maggie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 503
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

little Cotton Tail bunnies.

...or what is known to my dog as breakfast!
Old 06-12-2008, 12:45 AM
  #12  
Staging Lane
iTrader: (1)
 
freeman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DFW, TX
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

pretty sure its not a chinchilla, (googled pics of baby) also pretty sure its not a rabbit cause of the long pink tail, I believe its a species of chipmunk, as they usually live underground. chipmunks shouldnt be a problem around your house/yard.
Old 06-12-2008, 12:47 AM
  #13  
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
 
XtremeBBQ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: the woodlands, TX
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

looks like a BADASS new coat to me!
Old 06-12-2008, 01:21 AM
  #14  
TECH Enthusiast
 
Maggie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 503
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by freeman
pretty sure its not a chinchilla, (googled pics of baby) also pretty sure its not a rabbit cause of the long pink tail, I believe its a species of chipmunk, as they usually live underground. chipmunks shouldnt be a problem around your house/yard.
lol..
Those are Cotton Tails... see them all the time. The white stripe on the head is a dead give away!

I will bet a dollar to a donut hole that none of those have a long pink tail.

slayer_taunu said: "the tails (which you cant see in the pics) is a short fluffy looking thing"

Are all yall city folk?
Old 06-12-2008, 01:37 AM
  #15  
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (4)
 
newton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Sugar Land, TX
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Take the nest and catapult that **** into Fort Worth. Done.
Old 06-12-2008, 02:48 AM
  #16  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (14)
 
chrysler kid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Mckinney Plano Frisco
Posts: 2,720
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts

Default

those are rabbits. the local ones around here always nest in a yard kicking up the grass to make the babies invisible. look at the nest again around dusk and you should see a rabbit a few feet away keeping an eye on them.

i always enjoy seeing them scampering around but i have a neighbor who plants alot of stuff in their back yards and they shoot the invaders with bb guns
Old 06-12-2008, 06:59 AM
  #17  
On The Tree
 
Outlawfireman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: New Caney Texas
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

it may be a new species of varmit....................more than likely just rabbits!!
Old 06-12-2008, 10:03 AM
  #18  
Staging Lane
 
95TXTA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Yeah I would say chinchilla too..................if he lived in South America.
Looks like Alvin, Simon and Theodore.

Last edited by 95TXTA; 06-16-2008 at 01:57 PM.
Old 06-12-2008, 02:31 PM
  #19  
TECH Addict
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
slayer_taunu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Dallas, TX / Boston, MA
Posts: 2,169
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

no no, they DONT have a long pink tail. it's short and furry


...so anyways... how long do you think i have to wait before i can eat them? LMAO
Old 06-12-2008, 03:51 PM
  #20  
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (2)
 
-Ross-'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Houston/Alvin, TX
Posts: 3,828
Received 21 Likes on 16 Posts

Default

You should have just mowed over them and gone about your business.

They look like little rabbits to me. Look how big the hind legs are compared to the body.


Quick Reply: help identifying yard rodents



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:47 PM.