Climbing activity in the hispid cotton rat,Sigmodon hispidus, and the eastern meadow vole,microtus pennsylvanicus

Abstract

Our data indicate that cotton rats,Sigmodon hispidus, and meadow voles,Microtus pennsylvanicus, climb and take advantage of food items available above ground level. We captured cotton rats and meadow voles above ground using snap traps attached to honeysuckle,Lonicera japonica. In laboratory observations, cotton rats climbed to heights near 1 m, and food consumption and weight change showed no significant difference between groups that had to climb for food and those that did not have to climb.