Historical Note
The Roo Rat Society was founded in 1963 by Whitman College science
faculty and students interested in promoting humane means of capturing animals
used for scientific purposes. The group was founded on a trip to the Malheur
National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon to collect Kangaroo Rats (seed-eating
rodents of the genus Dipodomys) for scientific
study.
Members of the Society later shifted their aims to conservation of
wildlife in general, and now the group attempts to achieve this goal by
encouraging people to observe and hold the "Roo Rat" in its native environment.
Initiates lead candidates for membership on hunts for the rat, which are
governed by a series of rules designed to avoid harming the animal. Members are
required to catch the rat in a humane way and then release it back into the
wild as soon as a documentary photo is taken. Upon successfully catching and
releasing a Roo Rat, the candidate becomes a member of the society. To remain
an active member, each initiate must participate in a conservation project
annually.
The hunts usually take place around Wallula Gap, about thirty miles
West of Walla Walla. The Roo Rat Society is loosely organized and has over 200
members at the most recent count. It has received publicity for its unusual
name and activities and counts at least three past Whitman College presidents
among its members.
Content Description
The collection includes "Hunt Logs" that describe each official Roo
Rat hunt in detail. Rules of the hunt are printed on the back of the Hunt Logs.
Also included are the group's official emblems, flag, and wooden mascot. Nearly
100 photographs document hunts from 1963 until the present date. Of particular
interest are the society's clippings, which show the notoriety achieved by this
unusual group. The clippings give insight into the aims and purposes of the
society, and include quotes by members who believe the group made them more
aware of the importance of wildlife conservation. Another set of clippings and
articles describe the Kangaroo Rat, its habitat, and efforts to protect it
across the United States. The society's correspondence is also of interest
because it represents a broad cross-section of people interested in the
conservation movement.
Also in the collection are several artifacts, including a model of a
kangaroo rat, a license plate with the letters "ROO RAT," and maps that show
the location of the first hunt and subsequent hunts made by members of the
society.