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Species Description
This cute little animal has humongous eyes and a large head for its size. Compared to its head, the Fresno Kangaroo Rat has small curved ears, but don't underestimate the Fresno Kangaroo Rat. Although it's a small animal, it has amazingly strong claws for digging burrows in which they live. (their burrows are located in light, sandy dirt, and the more rats living in each burrow, the more burrow entrances there will be leading to the main burrows) Their fur is of a yellowish color on the head and back, while the belly is plain white, and they have a dark patch across their nose. Also, they have a single white stripe which extends from the hips and ends at the tail. The tail of the Fresno Kangaroo Rat is rather long for its size; the color is black at the bottom and top.
US Population Status
According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Fresno Kangaroo Rat's current listing status is endangered.
Reason for Current Status
According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, in 1997, the whole Fresno Kangaroo Rat population covered 17.95 acres of land in California. Habitat Loss caused the population to decline. Humans, lizards, and the San Joaquin Kit Fox take over their habitats.
Recovery Efforts
There is always a way to save the Fresno Kangaroo Rats and make their populations increase so they won't be an extinct species. The recovery plan is to save the Fresno Kangaroo Rat's existing habitat so they won't be extinct. One of the steps for saving this species is we'll find out more about their habitat and ways to save them. By doing so, they need to protect their habitat and evaluate the condition of the habitats. Another species called the Tulare Kangaroo Rat eats the same foods as the Fresno Kangaroo Rats, so they're trying to keep them away from the Fresno Kangaroo Rats. Another way to save the Fresno Kangaroo Rats is for scientists to build mounds for burrows so if there is a big storm, they won't drown. Also, the scientists are destroying some of the bushes in their habitat so grasses will grow, attracting rats to eat and reproduce. In conclusion, we should be careful not to ruin their habitat any further. If you ruin their habitat, you'll ruin ours.
For biased information, go to the Merced County University Community Plan.
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