Which rodents are included in the category of sylvatic rodents?

Sylvatic rodents refer to species that are primarily associated with wild habitats and ecosystems. They often inhabit areas outside urban environments and can be significant in terms of their impact on agriculture, ecosystems, and even human health due to their potential to carry diseases.

The correct choice, which includes white-footed deer mice and wood rats, accurately reflects examples of sylvatic rodents. These species are known to thrive in natural settings such as forests and grasslands, rather than in suburban or urban areas. They play important roles in their ecosystems, such as seed dispersal and serving as prey for various predators.

Other options do not fit the category of sylvatic rodents. Raccoons and opossums, although wild, are not classified as rodents; they belong to different families within the order Carnivora. Squirrels, while closer to rodents, are typically considered within a distinct ecological category and do not capture the essence of "sylvatic rodents" in the same context as the correct choice. Prairie dogs and mice could be seen as partially correct since prairie dogs are indeed rodents; however, the inclusion of mice does not specifically define them as sylvatic, as the term encompasses a broader range of wildlife considerations distinct from merely being a rod