<P> Kangaroo rats are primarily seed eaters, but also eat green plants and insects . Most giant kangaroo rats gather seeds when they are available and store them for consumption later . The seeds are put into small pits on the surface of the soil and scattered over the home range of the individual . The small pits only the content of the two cheek pouches . </P> <P> In the spring and summer, individuals generally spend less than two hours of the night foraging above ground . They are very territorial and never leave their den for more than 15 minutes per day . The giant kangaroo rat then stores the seeds in a larder for later eating and gives birth to a litter of 1 to 7 babies, with an average of 3 per litter . It communicates with potential mates by sandbathing, where the giant kangaroo rat rubs its sides in sand, leaving behind a scent to attract mates . They live for only 2--4 years . </P> <P> This species was declared endangered on both the federal and California state levels in the 1980s . It inhabits less than a mere 2% of its original range and can now be found only in isolated areas west of the San Joaquin Valley, including the Carrizo Plain, the Elkhorn Plain, and the Kettleman Hills . The giant kangaroo rat, like many other rodent species, lost much of its habitat as the Central Valley fell under agricultural use . Much information still needs to be obtained regarding their basic biology and compatibility with various land uses before clear directives can be made . Besides some projects currently underway in the Carrizo Plain National Monument, studies need to be conducted on populations whose range overlaps with private lands . Recovery of the giant kangaroo rat can be achieved when the three largest populations in eastern Kern County, Carrizo Plain Natural Area, and the Panoche Region along with the populations in the Kettleman Hills, San Juan Creek Valley and Cuyama Valley are protected and managed appropriately . </P> <P> The mating of the giant kangaroo rat is seasonal . During the summer, male rats go out of their normal territories and mate with neighboring female rats . During the winter, the males stay in their original burrow . </P>

When did the giant kangaroo rat become endangered