This verse reminds us of the wonderful care of the Lord God for creatures everywhere and especially in the wilderness or desert areas where it would seem nothing could survive. But He has placed a variety of creatures in such places, and if they could read the above Bible verse it certainly would make them happy.
In last week’s issue we considered the bandicoot, a small, cute animal in Australia and neighboring South Pacific areas and were interested to find it had several features similar to a kangaroo. Today we will bring our study back to the warm western portion of the United States and Mexico where an entirely different little animal makes its home. However, this one, although not related to kangaroos at all, does share some of their features. In fact, it has been given the name kangaroo rat, although more technically known as a potoroo.
Over a dozen species of these little fellows, about the size of a guinea pig, live in the hot deserts of California, Nevada, Arizona and northern Mexico. One interesting type is called the bannertail, because of the white, hairy brush on the end of its tail.
Kangaroo rats can be detected by the large mounds of sun-baked earth which are present after they have finished digging a burrow. On the surface of these mounds many holes appear which are all entrances to their underground nests. These mounds are often several feet in diameter and two feet or more in height, full of twisting passageways that confuse an enemy trying to reach them. It is really amazing that so small an animal can produce such a big project.
The main feature of the kangaroo rat which is similar to Australia’s true kangaroos is that both their front and hind limbs are almost identical miniatures of the kangaroo’s. The long ones in back are used (just as are those of the kangaroo) for sitting upright on them when resting, or eating food they have picked, as well as moving about in long hops. The much shorter front ones are used mostly for digging and for getting food into cheek pouches. This food includes seeds and certain plants which they bring into special rooms in their burrows and store for winter use.
The above-ground tunnels eventually wind as much as two feet below ground level, with the dozen or so entrances winding around in various directions until they all meet at the nest and storage chambers. These very effectively confuse snakes or coyotes, and if they do persist in following one underground, the kangaroo rat can quickly escape by using a different tunnel.
The Lord God, the Creator of heaven and earth, has provided the instincts and activities by which kangaroo rats survive in their harsh areas. In next week’s issue we will consider some of His special provisions for them.
ML-01/19/1986