Giant Kangaroo Rat Lightbox Portrait

I am a wildlife biologist and had the opportunity to assist a lab mate in live trapping for the endangered Giant Kangaroo Rat under permit. This is a real privilege as this species' range is not only heavily restricted but getting the opportunity to legally find and handle them is difficult.

I had been practicing a field lightbox technique for small mammals on my own study species of interest (the narrow-faced kangaroo rat) and was happy to get to use that here. I know this isn't a very artistic shot, but its rare to get such a clear image of all the species' features. The huge hind feet they use to hop around with, the large ears, the heavily contrasted tail stripe, and long tail they use for balance. They are nocturnal so even if someone knows they exist, they are rarely seen alive. One last thing, they are keystone species and ecosystem engineers, so they are vital components to they environment. Spread the word, K rats are cute and amazing!