Critters in our Midst - Key Largo Woodrat

“Key Largo Woodrat” - Clay DeGayner Photo The woodrat is greyish brown, with a hairy tail, big ears and resembles a mouse.

Calusa Indians, Spaniards, wreckers, pirates, farmers, Bahamian  fisherman, Conchs, homesteaders, hermits, land developers, the U.S.  Government, collectors and conservationists have all laid claim to the  Upper Keys. Each in their own way have left their mark. 

US1, the main route to the Florida Keys, contained the tourism and  development for those seeking an exotic world of tropical adventure,  and spared North Key Largo from much attention. 

I arrived in the Florida Keys in 1984 in my red Pinto station wagon  containing all my belongings, including a windsurfer strapped to the  roof. I took a left at the intersection of US1 and CR 905 and headed  northeast, eventually ending up in a small conch cottage in Gulfstream  Shores named “Somewhere Else”. It was in the middle of future  conservation lands. 

The establishment of Crocodile Lake NWR in 1980, and the acquisition  of Port Bougainville by the State of Florida in 1982 were pivotal events  securing the future of a natural N. Key Largo. The CLNWR is home to  the endangered Key Largo woodrat, Key Largo cotton mouse, Stock  Island tree snail, Schaus’ swallowtail butterfly and American Crocodile..  

There are many misconceptions about one of the protected species: the  Key Largo woodrat. Very dissimilar from the black rat. the Key Largo woodrat is a nocturnal animal, that lives away from humans in the  hammocks of North Key Largo. The woodrat is greyish brown, with a  hairy tail, big ears and resembles a mouse. The black rat, a nuisance  species, has a long scaly tail and is found in populated areas, around  dumpsters, or even in your tool shed or attic. 

Some people see black rats like the ones attacking a bird feeder, and  claim they are woodrats,. A woman seated at the local bar was  overheard saying: ”I don't understand why the government is building  houses for those rats in N. Key Largo”. Her vision of woodrats  occupying a three room dollhouse, complete with front porch, and a tin  roof, is totally false.  

Yes folks, they walk among us.

Prior to the 1980’s, on both sides of CR-905 there were wheel worn  finger roads, about six ft. wide and as high as a pick-up truck, etched in  the coral rock. These roads of formerly platted subdivisions, became the  dumping grounds for old refrigerators, discarded vehicles and  construction debris. With public acquisition came cleaning up of the  trash, some of which included piles of sticks indicative of nesting Key  Largo woodrats.

“Bug in the Woods” - Carol Ellis Photo Roads of formerly platted subdivisions along CR-905, became the dumping grounds for old discarded vehicles.

Ralph and Clay DeGayner signed on to volunteer at the refuge because  they wanted to see a woodrat. They became curious as to why the  woodrats were not piling sticks, but instead making homes in the  hollowed out bases of trees and under debris.  

It became obvious that supplemental nests were needed. Ralph’s idea of using discarded jet skis as nests was frowned upon by researchers,  however he persisted, and jet skis were hauled into the woods, and  covered with natural materials such as coral rock and tree debris. When  they began working as nesting sites, Ralph says "some of my best  breeders", it changed everyone's minds.

“Jet Ski Supplemental Nest” - Carol Ellis Photo Supplemental nests constructed with a jet ski covered by natural materials such as coral rock and tree debris.

Rodents are at the bottom of the food chain and their natural predators  include snakes and raptors, along with non-native predators such as  feral cats, and Burmese Python. Cameras were placed in the nests,  which provided researchers with valuable information pertaining to  reproduction, and what predators were in the vicinity, and eventually  implicated feral cats as a major predator, attracted by the commotion  the woodrats made while building their stick nests. 

Ralph, born during the Great Depression, dedicated two decades of his  life toward improving a habitat, that during his lifetime was nearly  destroyed, so that a future generation could see a woodrat. Ralphs most  memorable moment as a volunteer, came while spending time with  conservation icon Jane Goodall, visiting thriving woodrat nests in the  hammocks. After the visit, Goodall wrote: “a small group of dedicated  persons, even volunteers with little scientific training, can help turn  around an extinction event just by persisting in intelligent efforts.”

“Conch Cottage in 2008 | Ralph DeGayner” - Carol Ellis Photo A two room cottage belonging to an early settler prior to it’s collapse in 2011.

Personally, I am not particularly bothered if I see an actual woodrat in my  lifetime; I am just reassured by the passionate efforts of many, to ensure  their survival

“Collapsed Conch Cottage in 2022” - Carol Ellis Photo With Ralphs help, it became a productive nesting site containing multiple woodrat nests.