Wild Word

North Central Texas Rodents

In the next three issues we will be looking at the rodents that occur in North Central Texas. This issue focuses on assorted rodent and rodent-like beasts with the exception of rats and mice. The many species of rats and mice will be detailed in the April & May editions.

While often thought of merely as rapidly reproducing carnivore food, rodents exhibit complex behaviors that are worthy of study. We should remember that other species have been on this earth at least as long as we have and are as precisely adapted to survive as we are. Scientists now attribute highly intelligent behavior to various animals that were once viewed as having brains too small and lifetimes too short to be intelligent. Bats are not rodents (and might be offended at the comparison), but they are small mammals with tiny brains. They are now viewed as being especially bright. In studying the details of echolocation, it becomes apparent that the quantity and speed of information being processed in order to effectively capture insects in the air involves an overwhelming array of neural operations. Furthermore, these studies have uncovered puzzling (whale-like) behavior in which songs are produced and modified for the apparent enjoyment of the bat. How can something with so small a brain be so intelligent? Our desire to equate brain size with intelligence turns out to be just prejudice. Are we equally prejudiced regarding life span? How much wisdom can be acquired in a short life span? Bats have been recorded as living for 32 years in the wild. Certainly a lot can be learned in that amount of time. Most rodents on the other hand, usually live no longer than a few years and are most likely to be snatched up and eaten long before that. How do mice measure time? Do they feel as if they have lived as long as they should? A full life in a year? We as a species have tremendous difficulty in trying to comprehend what other species are thinking. We do our best to understand animal behavior without ascribing human characteristics to it. Is such a thing even possible? How much can we hope to understand? Are we becoming more ill-equipped in this regard than our ancient ancestors were? Perhaps we are now so encapsulated within the human arena that we will never see through the eyes of other creatures. Or is this inability an instinctual behavior that allows us to exercise our carnivorous desires without undue guilt? Are there unwritten evolutionary guidelines that prevent us from comprehending alien mental sets? Or is the opposite equally possible--that this sort of understanding is coming increasingly within our grasp as we continue our development on this earth? Recent Technological breakthroughs are providing phenomenal windows into animal behavior, but in the final analysis, true understanding and compassion for our alien kin remains firmly in the realm of our expanding minds and burgeoning souls.

See you on the trails,

Royce & LuCretia

Natural History of North Central Texas Index
 

Royce & LuCretia Milam Copyright © March 1996 Wild Vision. All rights reserved.