Family: Heteromyidae, Pocket Mice and Kangaroo Rats view all from this family
Description Buffy, reddish, or blackish above; white below. Tail crested but generally not white-tipped; relatively short for the genus. Dark tail stripe below extending to tip of tail. Usually conspicuous white spots at base of ears and above eyes. Hindfoot has 5 toes. Lower incisors rounded in front. L 8 1/4–11 1/8" (208–282 mm); T 3 7/8–6 3/8" (100–163 mm); HF average 1 3/4" (44–45 mm); Wt 1 3/4–3 3/8 oz (50–96 g).
Similar Species The only other 5-toed kangaroo rats occurring with Ord’s are the Panamint Kangaroo Rat, which is larger and has a longer tail, and the Chisel-toothed Kangaroo Rat, which has flat-edged lower incisors. Merriam’s Kangaroo Rat is similar, but has 4 toes on hindfoot.
Breeding May produce young once or twice a year, or through entire year, depending on circumstances. Reproductive season arrives with appearance of rainfall and new vegetative growth. 1–6 young born after gestation of 28–30 days.
Habitat Varies: including sandy waste areas, sand dunes, sometimes hard-packed soil.
Range Southeastern Alberta, sw Saskatchewan, s Idaho, sc Washington, e Oregon south to extreme ne California, Arizona, New Mexico, w Texas, and w Oklahoma.
Discussion Ord’s Kangaroo Rat is active all winter in Texas, but farther north it is seldom seen aboveground in very cold weather. It spends its days in deep burrows in the sand, which it plugs to maintain stable temperature and humidity. Extra holes are dug throughout the home range as escape hatches. It eats the seeds of plants such as mesquite, tumbleweed, Russian thistle, sunflower, and sandbur, as well as some green vegetation and subterranean fungi. Like other kangaroo rats, it eats perishable items while foraging, and puts seeds in its cheek pouches for later caching. Sometimes this species takes seeds from newly planted fields. Two individuals may skirmish, jumping into the air and striking out at each other with their feet. This kangaroo rat kicks sand into the face of an enemy, such as a rattlesnake; covers 6 to 8 feet (2–2.5 m) at a leap when speed is called for; drums by pounding the hindfeet; and takes sandbaths, which keep the fur from becoming matted. Ord’s makes a sound similar to a bird’s soft chirping. Rattlesnakes, owls, American Badgers, skunks, foxes, weasels, and Coyotes are its predators. These animals may live for about seven and a half years. Canadian populations of Ord’s Kangaroo Rat are currently under consideration for listing as threatened or endangered.
