So... for a wild kangaroo rat, that I found in the back yard. I have now sank... over 20 dollars into.

First, I risked life, twice by going into my shed's loft space that has a rotted out landing outside the door of the loft. I seriously almost fell through. Luckily I was on the stairs when I placed my hand on the board and it fell off. But that was after I had already gone in and egressed from the loft. And I went in again.. The first time was to get out my 30 gallon reptile tank that I used to breed rats in. But the second time was to get this 10 gallon tank, It's a better fit for her.

So after risking life and limb.. I decided I didn't like paper shreds getting into her water. So I went out and made that white wooden platform you see on the left of the tank. used a large hole saw to cut the hole, but it didn't fit the bowl... So then I learned my router won't accept the bits. So I risked digits this time and used my table saw to cut a taper into the hole by rotating the block over the saw blade, using the edge and top of the teeth to cut a rough, very rough cove but it allowed the board to sit down properly.

Then today I decided that if she was going to stay she needed more sanitary bedding than paper shreds. So.. she now has pine chip bedding!.. And hamster and gerbil food.. another bowl for her fruits, breads, and nuts.. An edible log to cut her teeth on.. A jar to keep her food in and the cats out. A tote to keep her bedding in..

So the lesson is.. even if it's free... it's never free.... So as you can see she's got water, two food bowls, a food log-stick thing, an edible home and some newspaper shredding to keep herself cosey and hidden.

She has over 2 pounds of spare hamster food, at least another 3 cubic feet of bedding...

But it looks like she's here to stay. And being of not so smart and witty names, being that she is a kangaroo rat, I've named her Sheila. I know. I'm sooo witty, just like I named my husky-shepherd mix Sydney. What is it with me and these Aussie names!