In July, we admitted an unusual patient from Oroville, WA—a bushy-tailed woodrat who had unknowingly hitched a ride to the Puget Sound region inside a vehicle. Upon intake, we discovered she wasn’t alone—she had two babies with her.
We quickly set up a quiet, secluded enclosure to serve as a maternity ward and minimized disturbance during care to avoid stressing the new mother.
Over the next several weeks, the young rats grew strong and independent under her watchful eye. Once the family was ready for life on their own, we returned all three back to Oroville where they belong.
Here’s a photo of the mother in a humane trap shortly after her arrival.