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Cultural Significance

Positive

The positive significance of the eastern woodrat is primarily focused on the role they play in their environment. Their nests provide homes for a number of other species including but not limited to insects, other rodents, reptiles, and frogs.^[1] The eastern woodrat's seed dispersal has a great impact on the spread of other species, and their fecal matter increases soil fertility in the areas they live in for the plant species to grow.^[2] Woodrats have had a big impact on the development of archaeology and paleontology research from the study of their feces.^[3]

Negative

Eastern woodrats are more popularly known for being pests and for their negative impacts on the environment around humans. They tend to seek out houses, especially cottages or cabins in wooded areas, for warmth or housing. eastern woodrats do not hesitate to make nests out of mattresses and other furniture in homes they invade.^[2] While they are at these houses they may consume vegetation around the home.^[2] Automobiles are likely to be inhabited by eastern woodrats, where they will chew wires, and cause a mess by bringing in grasses and other nesting materials.^[2] When coming into contact with humans they can spread disease because of the parasites they carry. Zoonosis is the diseases which can be passed from woodrat to human.^[2] However since direct contact of the Eastern Woodrat with humans is rare there is minimal cases in which humans contract these diseases. The eastern woodrat has not been known to have any economic value.^[1]

^ ^a ^b Brown, Larry N. (1997). A Guide to the Mammals of the Southeastern United States. Knoxville: The University of Tennessee Press. p. 113. ISBN 978-0870499661.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Feldhamer, George A.; Thompson, Bruce C.; Chapman, Joseph A. (2003). Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, and Conservation. Baltimore, Maryland: John Hoppkins University Press. pp. 381–390. ISBN 978-0801874161.
^ Betancourt, Julio H.; Van Devender, Thomas R.; Schultz Martin, Paul (1990). Packrat Middens: The Last 40,000 Years of Biotic Change. Tucson, Arizona: The University of Arizona Press. ISBN 978-0816511150.

[:1-1] Brown, Larry N. (1997). A Guide to the Mammals of the Southeastern United States. Knoxville: The University of Tennessee Press. p. 113. ISBN 978-0870499661.

[:0-2] Feldhamer, George A.; Thompson, Bruce C.; Chapman, Joseph A. (2003). Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, and Conservation. Baltimore, Maryland: John Hoppkins University Press. pp. 381–390. ISBN 978-0801874161.

[3] Betancourt, Julio H.; Van Devender, Thomas R.; Schultz Martin, Paul (1990). Packrat Middens: The Last 40,000 Years of Biotic Change. Tucson, Arizona: The University of Arizona Press. ISBN 978-0816511150.

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