Animal Sciences Commons^™

The Natural History Of The Marsh Rice Rat, Oryzomys Palustris, In Eastern Virginia, Robert K. Rose

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The marsh rice rat, Oryzomys palustris, is a common rodent in tidal marshes of eastern Virginia, including those on the barrier islands. It also is present in grassy old fields in upland habitats in the coastal plain and parts of the piedmont of Virginia. This report summarizes what has been learned in recent decades about the population biology of this species in Virginia, including aspects of behavior, density, diet, distribution, genetics, habitats, mammal associates, and reproduction.