Rodents  

Tussock & Rose

CHINCHILLA:
(Chinchilla Langerla) - Endangered Species
A native of South America that lives in colonies in the Andes Mountains at altitudes of 4000 metres or more. Chinchillas are a small rodent whose diet consists of seeds, fruit, nuts, and herbs, They have a dense coat for protection from the cold. Classed as domestic in NZ but the breeding and sale of chinchillas has been banned by the Otago and Southland regional councils.

FERRETS:
(Mustela putorius)
The carnivorous  ferret has been domesticated for centuries. Commonly used for rabbit hunting in England in the old days ferrets were also used on sailing ships to keep down rat and mouse populations. Unlike their feral cousins, the domestic ferret make delightful pets but it is now no longer legal to keep ferrets in captivity in New Zealand.

Bently

The Reservation Rat Family

RATS:
The Rats displayed at The Reservation are curious and friendly. Their diet consists of a variety of grain, fruit, vegetable and meat treats. Throughout history, rats have been both friend and foe. From the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamlin in the middle ages to their common use in laboratories helping to understand disease, genetics and space exploration, rats have been both a major enemy and an irreplaceable scientific tool.