What kinds of shelters do rodents use?

Rodents utilize a diverse array of shelters, ranging from simple natural formations to complex, self-constructed structures. These habitats are adapted to the specific ecological needs and locomotor patterns of different species.12

Common types of shelters include:

• Burrows and Tunnels: Many rodents, including semiaquatic species like beavers and muskrats, construct ground burrows for denning. Others create elaborate, complex networks of tunnels and galleries.12
• Natural Crevices: Rodents frequently occupy existing natural features such as tree holes and rock crevices.2
• Surface Nests: Some species build hidden nests on the forest floor, while others construct structures made of leaves and sticks within tree crowns.2
• Aquatic Mounds: Certain rodents build mounds composed of cut vegetation in aquatic environments.2
• Middens: Species like the woodrat build structures known as middens. These can range from simple stick piles to massive, elaborate configurations that may include debris, bones, and other collected items, sometimes cemented together with urine.3

These shelters serve as vital spaces for resting, rearing young, and storing food.24