Kangaroo Rats Pocket Mice and Kangaroo Mice: Heteromyidae

Heteromyids eat mostly seeds, but also eat green vegetation and, in some species, insects. Desert species can go without water for long periods of time. They leave their burrows at night to dig through soil with their forelimbs to gather seeds into their cheek pouches. When pouches are full, they return to one of their caches (KASH-uhz), hidden supply areas, which are used throughout the animal's home range. Heteromyids defend their territory aggressively when they have collected many seeds.