What specific geological formation does the Allegheny woodrat (*Neotoma magister*) favor for building its home base?
Answer
Rock crevices and talus slopes
The Allegheny woodrat (*Neotoma magister*), a species facing conservation concerns in the eastern US, demonstrates a specific habitat requirement tied to protection. These rodents favor inhabiting the natural crevices found within talus slopes, which are defined as accumulations of broken rock found at the base of cliffs. Utilizing these rocky environments provides the necessary protected spaces to construct their large middens safely and offers crucial avenues for avoiding detection by ground-based predators, particularly important during harsh winters when utilizing existing rock foundations is key to survival.
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