This verse reminds us of the wonderful care of the Lord God for creatures everywhere and especially in the wilderness or desert areas where it would seem nothing could survive. But He has placed a variety of creatures in such places, and if they could read the above Bible verse it certainly would make them happy.
Today we will go to the warm western portion of the United States and Mexico where the tiny kangaroo rat makes its home. Although not related to kangaroos, it does jump around like a miniature kangaroo on long, powerful hind feet.
Over a dozen species of these little fellows, about 15 inches long, including its 8-inch tail, live in the hot deserts of California, Nevada, Arizona and northern Mexico. An interesting one is called the bannertail, because of the white, hairy brush on the end of its tail.
Kangaroo rats can be detected by the large mounds of sun-baked earth which are present after they have finished digging a burrow. On the surface of these mounds many holes appear which are all entrances to their underground nests. These mounds are often several feet in diameter and two feet or more in height, full of twisting tunnels that confuse an enemy trying to reach them. It is really amazing that so small an animal can construct such a big project.
The main feature of the kangaroo rat is that both its front and hind feet are almost identical miniatures of the true Australian kangaroo. The long feet in back are used (just like those of the kangaroo) for sitting upright when resting or eating food they have picked, as well as moving about in long hops. The much shorter front feet are used mostly for digging and for stuffing food into cheek pouches. This food includes seeds and certain plants which they bring into special rooms in their burrows and store for winter use.
The above-ground tunnels eventually twist and turn as much as two feet below ground level until they all meet at the nest and storage chambers. The dozen or more entrances and twisting tunnels very effectively confuse snakes or coyotes. If an enemy does persist in following one underground, the kangaroo rat can quickly escape by using a different tunnel.
The Lord God, the Creator of heaven and earth, has provided the instincts and activities by which kangaroo rats survive in their harsh areas. In next week’s issue we will consider some of His special provisions for them.
ML-03/14/1999