Which rodents have the largest territory?

Submitted by WombatusMighty t3_10bnavq in askscience

I know that beavers are technically rodents and have territories that can span up to multiple kilometers, but what about other (smaller) rodents - which species do have the largest territory?

I hope someone can help me with this question, Google wasn't very helpful in that regard. Thank you! :)

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Tasty-Army200 t1_j4cgj58 wrote

Gophers of any variety can take up large swaths of territory, and are organized amongst themselves.

Rats/mice by default are the most populace and can be found pretty much everywhere, but they don't really organize amongst themselves.

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TheLostHippos t1_j4i2j0o wrote

Rats absolutely do organize amongst themselves in groups called packs. Larger rats dominate the group and prevent other males from mating with the female rats.

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Tasty-Army200 t1_j4m03yt wrote

I should have been more specific.

Rats will organize themselv s.on this small of a scale yes, but there won't be thousands working in unison like gophers.

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TheLostHippos t1_j4m1d2g wrote

Some types of rats actually form colonies that can grow over 100 individuals. Norway Rats are a good example of this. They'll have burrows with 150+ members and even have individual rooms, food caches and rooms for feeding their young.

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Tasty-Army200 t1_j4maail wrote

Yes and all of that is not mutually exusive to my statement.

Compared to gophers that is nothing lol

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TheLostHippos t1_j4nf5xd wrote

Compared to most gophers its extremely similar if not significantly more. Most gophers live solo outside of mating and breeding.

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Tasty-Army200 t1_j4ntwii wrote

Huh? No lol.

We're constantly given jobs to take apart pocket gopher areas which can cover extremely large areas.

They'll share food, communicate amongst themselves and share.

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TheLostHippos t1_j4q7ykd wrote

Yes, but did you know most gophers are actually solo in their burrows outside of breeding?

While you may find 60 gophers in an acre, most are living in individual burrows.

"Gophers usually live alone within their burrow system, except when females are caring for their young or during breeding season. Gopher densities can be as high as 60 or more per acre in irrigated alfalfa fields or in vineyards."

https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/pocket-gophers/pest-notes/?src=302-www&fr=3782#:~:text=Gophers%20usually%20live%20alone%20within,alfalfa%20fields%20or%20in%20vineyards.

"Habitat
Because gophers are territorial and more comfortable being alone, each of them stays inside their own burrow. Male and female gophers only dwell on each other’s places during mating season. Though some gophers can actually breed all throughout the year, most of them gather around summer and springtime to breed.
Soft, muddy soil
Edible plant in the surrounding"

http://www.minneapoliswildlife.com/gopher.html

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