Stevens' Kangaroo Rat

The Stevens' Kangaroo Rat is indigenous to the Santa Rosa Plateau which is easily accessible by heading west from Murrieta into the desert on Clinton Keith Road. Once on the endangered species list, it is now considered threatened. The only place in the entire world where you can find a Stevens' Kangaroo Rat is in that beautiful desert sanctuary just west of the Temecula Valley.

What's interesting is that the name, Stevens' Kangaroo Rat, comes from the storied history of a man named Zachary Stevens from the Temecula Valley. Zach was a gambler by nature, although he was a miner by trade. He was chasing the dream of getting his piece of the Comstock Lode found in Carson City, Nevada. A gold strike that occupied the newspaper headlines all over the world in the early months of 1860. In the fall of that year, Stevens found himself smack dab in the middle of the beautiful Temecula Valley. Somewhere along the trek of his personal gold rush that started in Belmont, Massachusetts, he seemed to have taken a wrong turn. Perhaps in the Rocky Mountains? The details of how he could have possibly veered off course by some 500 miles have never been explained.

The factual circumstances were that Zach was in the right parallel but too far south and way short on cash. In fact, he was completely short… as in broke. Stevens needed some fast revenue.

There wasn't much going on in Temecula at that point in time. Ezequial Murrieta would not buy his 52,000 acres for another 13 years. Heck, the Temecula post office was opened just one year before Zach’s arrival. Of course, there were the missionaries from the Catholic church and the immigrants from Mexico coming up into California. The economy was based on ranching and farming. Stevens owned no land, had no skills (especially in the direction department) and clearly needed a break. 

After trying and failing to become a ranch hand he found himself on the streets of Old Town Temecula. He had no money, no house, no horse, no job and no prospects. It was while he was sleeping on the street in Old Town Temecula that a kangaroo rat came up and bit him on the nose. In great pain and frightened that he may now have rabies on top of all of his other bad luck, Stevens began desperately searching for the rodent that snacked on his nostril. 

What happened next was truly miraculous. Within three feet of him was the carnivorous Kangaroo Rat. The creature was just sitting there, completely docile. It was not rabid at all; it was simply as hungry as he was. Zach found a morsel of bread on the street, but instead of eating it himself, he gave it to his brand new Kangaroo Rat friend. One thing led to another and after a short time Stevens had found the family of this rat. Soon after, Zach was hanging out with an entire 23andMe gang of Kangaroo Rats! 

He ended up training his new found family to do a circus-like act and began doing street performances in Old Town Temecula. He taught them how to turn flips. He taught them how to play banjos. He taught them to bang on cymbals. He taught them several dances. The Kangaroo Rattus Ranchers loved it because they were able to get food from their work with Stevens. Stevens loved it because people absolutely filled his hat full of money every single day.

Before the calendar switched to 1861, Stevens had earned enough money to head off to Carson City to gain the fame and fortune which was now certainly a right versus a pursuit. Not to be detoured from his ultimate destiny, Stevens informed his rowdy rodents that their time together had passed and that he was departing for his next adventure. From that day forward, in Old Town Temecula, the performing Kangaroo Rats were a common sight. The troupe had learned to perform without human accompaniment! Everyday, they performed for breadcrumbs and little morsels of seeds—especially pumpkin seeds because of their high iron content and water density. 

It wasn't until 1903 when a politician by the name of Wilhelm Müller came along and was elected mayor of Temecula. He had a phobia of rodent-type animals and set about the job of exterminating the tiny Kangaroo Rat entertainers from downtown Temecula. He never got the chance. It’s like the creative creatures were tipped off because just like that, they were gone. In one day, every single Kangaroo Rat migrated to the east (and slightly north) of Temecula where they remain today—juggling, playing the banjo, and eating seeds from the grass.

So, on this Father's Day, just know that the indigenous Stevens' Kangaroo Rat is named after a man who was desperate and down on his luck. A clever man who found a rodent by the road to help him with his road forward. The father of the Stephens' rat, Zachary Stevens. 

Of course, if you believe any of that, please don’t take any wooden nickels. It's Father's Day, and why wouldn't I tell a Father's Day joke just to put a smile on your face as you get ready to celebrate this weekend?

By the way, the Stephens' Kangaroo Rat is actually named after a naturalist and the founder of the San Diego Zoological Society. Frank Stephens was a contributor to many advancements in the zoological space. And yes, he belongs to Southern California, of course. You can look that one up for the full (and true) story. 

Happy Father's Day, and if I can sell your house for you or find your perfect forever home, I'd welcome the opportunity to earn your trust. I'll bring along my Kangaroo Rats and we'll do a little song and dance to get your house moving.