Pennsylvania Game News - October 2012 - 40

whiskers.	It	is	gray	above	with	white	 underparts	 and	 paws.	 The	 average	 adult	 weighs	 less	 than	 a	 pound	 and	 measures	 17	 inches,	 including	 an	 8-inch	tail. The	woodrat	colony,	having	served	 	 a	similar	role	at	Purdue	University,	will	 be	 housed	 in	 a	 lab	 on	 the	 Delaware	 Valley	 College	 campus	 in	 a	 state	 of	 permanent	quarantine	with	limited	direct	access	because	of	concerns	about	 stress	and	the	health	of	the	animals.	 The	 primary	 goal	 of	 the	 colony	 will	 be	 to	 produce	 as	 many	 offspring	 as	 possible,	 ultimately	 in	 support	 of	 conservation	 efforts	 by	 the	 Game	 Commission.	 Offspring	 may	 be	 used	 to	augment	declining	woodrat	populations,	 or	 re-establish	 colonies	 where	 they	have	been	lost. “These	woodrats	will	enable	us	to	 create	 a	 link	 between	 our	 students’	 education	in	the	classroom	in	wildlife	 conservation,	 small	 animal	 and	 zoo	 sciences,	and	a	regional	conservation	 priority	species”	said	Reginald	Hoyt,	 Assistant	Professor	and	Animal	Biotechnology	and	Conservation	Department	 Co-Chair.	 “In	 our	 zoo	 science	 classes,	 students	 will	 be	 tasked	 with	 designing	 natural	 habitat	 enclosures	 and	exhibits	appropriate	for	a	colony	

of	 woodrats,	 as	 well	 as	 improving	 animal	 care	 protocols	 that	 promote	 reproduction.	 We	 also	 will	 look	 to	 incorporate	 a	 live-webcast,	 in	 partnership	with	the	Game	Commission,	 from	a	naturalistic	exhibit	for	others	 to	learn	about	woodrats. “Students	 in	 other	 animal	 and	 pre-veterinary	courses	will	be	able	to	 benefit	 from	 this	 colony	 by	 learning	 about	 nutrition	 and	 reproduction,	 behavior	 and	 genetics.	 We	 also	 will	 be	 working	 on	 developing	 artificial	 insemination	 techniques	 for	 difficult	 breeders,	and	our	small	animal	science	 teams	will	be	able	to	study	the	effects	 of	raccoon	roundworm,	which	is	one	 of	the	suspected	causes	of	the	decline	 in	wild	woodrats.” Hoyt	 noted	 that	 Delaware	 Valley	 College	will	seek	to	maintain	a	colony	 of	up	to	25	animals.	So,	as	the	colony	 produces	offspring,	the	juveniles	will	 be	handed	over	to	the	Game	Commission	for	release	into	the	wild.	 “Delaware	 Valley	 College	 will	 work	 with	 the	 Game	 Commission	 to	develop	a	soft-release	protocol	for	 juvenile	 woodrats	 produced	 by	 this	 colony,”	 said	 Dan	 Brauning,	 Game	 Commission	Wildlife	Diversity	Division	chief.	“These	releases	are	by	no	

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Pennsylvania Game News - October 2012

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