Posted by Jim Jensen on July 18, 2006

Q: I found this little rodent in my drive way. I have no idea what is is. Looks like a cross between a rat and a squirrel. I kind of hopped when it moved. Its head was larger then its body. I moved it to a location under a tree. I looked at the location the next day and it appeared as thought the crreature may have burrowed into the ground.

Habitat: suburban/yard

State: Minnesota

Habitat: suburban/yard

A: Thanks for the photo - it helps a lot although I still can't ID your animal. Minnesota is a big state and if I knew exactly where you live, it would help narrow down the possibilities but still wouldn't be enough.

The photo is of a young rodent, not an adult. Rodents are especially difficult to identify. My first thought was that you might have a Meadow Jumping Mouse, but now that I see this baby, it simply looks like a baby rodent, not any one in particular. Sorry, but the only way you'll be able to ID this animal is to have a mammalogist check out its teeth and even then it will be difficult. Maybe you can take it to the Natural History Museum in Minneapolis? Or maybe the mother has come back to reclaim her young.

John Wiessinger ( July 18, 2006)