Do kagaroo rats eat their offspring?

Answer 1

As with all rodents, infanticide (parents eating the babies) is a high risk. There are several ways to help prevent it, but it doesn't always work.

1. Separate the male away from the mother and babies. After birth, the mother goes straight into heat again. The male often views the babies as a hindrance and will kill them to get to the mother again.

2. Try not to breed the mother too young or too old.

3. Do not touch the babies! If you do, you are putting them at risk. A strange smell on the babies seems to make the moms feel there is something wrong with them so she basically tries to end their suffering.

4. Leave them be! Give mom her space. Do not bother unless absolutely necessary to give food or water.

Sometimes it just happens for no reason, but those should help decrease the risk.