The most common rodent in Cardolan, the Cunara (Du. "Gophers") of Eriador resembled big stout Rats and lived mainly on grass roots. On the plains they were a major nuisance because they lived in large colonies of interlocking burrows. Their holes rose up about a foot from ground level but their tunnels ran very close to the surface and could not be easily detected by Sheep, Horses, or Men (leading to many broken legs).