A Rodents' World

Rodents are but one animal we share relationship to in the species of mammals. Not nearly as numerous as the insects rodents are varied and prevalent all the same. Oddly some of their kind thrive better in the presence of humans than in the wild because they reap the benefits of our excesses. Especially rats and mice that actually share our houses and storerooms. The more we try to rid ourselves of their presence, the more they appear to thrive. Because of their perseverance and proximity to our living space they infect us with disease and pestilence, although I suppose we would attract lice and such parasites with our own close living.
A well known rodent, the beaver, was so prized for its pelt the species were trapped near to extinction. Their tails stored fat and were eaten by trappers and immigrants. Beavers are not completely welcomed in wildlife refuges because of their need to chew bark of native trees. They must chew to wear down their teeth which like our finger and toe nails continue to grow throughout their lives.
A more visible rodent where ever there are trees is the squirrel. What a pleasure to watch their antics whether chasing each other in play or copulation, or their indecision in the storing of nuts in the fall. In my backyard either the squirrels forget where the nuts were put in the ground or they did not need them for food after all. Many black and English trees sprout up every summer to attest to their folly. If they do not like the nuts from neighborhood trees they feed on bird seed in every sort of feeder engineers have ever designed. James Michener tells of the ingenuity of a friend of his determined to create a squirrel proof bird feeder. Hundreds of dollars later and after many intricate designs discarded, he gave up and now simply enjoys the feisty rodents. I let the neighborhood cats harass those who chatter from my trees. Neither the cats nor the squirrels are discouraged. Putting up with others is in their genes. Must be where humans get a similar trait.
Naomi Sherer