These pretty little animals are from one to two feet long, plus long bushy tails, and they eat the plants, grass, seeds and roots of the mountains and plains of South America. Viscachas are related to chinchillas but act more like prairie dogs. They have burrows and post sentries while gathering food. The sentries sound an alarm, scooting them all into their burrows when danger approaches.
Those in the mountain areas are mostly shorter and are covered with soft, short, gray or brown fur. This makes them look something like rabbits, except for their long side whiskers and bushy tails. Most of them have a plain black stripe down their backs.
Those living on the plains are larger and heavier. Their coats are a coarse gray or light brown, and their underparts are plain white. They dig networks of burrows, many of which end up in a large den where two dozen or more of these animals make their home. Sometimes lizards, snakes, toads, foxes or owls make their way into these dens, but, although some are natural enemies, they seem to get along together in the dens. No doubt this is a special provision of the Creator to preserve the viscachas from being wiped out.
These lowlanders often make their homes near cultivated fields where they get into farmers’ crops. This often results in their getting shot and becoming a tasty meal on a farmer’s dinner table.
In general, the faces of the various species are rather pretty. Although colors vary, they all have upright, open ears atop a light-brown forehead. Their eyes stand out sharply inside a white circle of fur. Many of them have another white band going from the top of the tiny nose (itself surrounded by dark fur) up to the eyes. The chin and chest are covered with white fur like the underparts. There are many patterns involved, all looking as though someone had painted ribbons and patches on the cute little heads without a pattern to follow.
Viscachas stay in their dens in daylight, but at early dawn and again at dusk they go in search of food. While out searching, if they come across things of interest, such as bones, stones or a piece of bright metal, they take them home and make a pile of them, just like the pack rat of North America.
We may not understand just what part these little animals have in God’s wonderful creation, but we do know that He delighted in placing them on the earth and now watches over them. The Bible says, “By Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth. . . . All things were created by Him, and for Him” (Colossians 1:1616For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)). Aren’t you glad that “all things” includes you too?
ML-07/17/2005