The giant kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ingens) is an endangered species of heteromyid rodent endemic to California.

In 1987, United States Fish and Wildlife classified the kangaroo rat as an endangered species, chiefly due to habitat loss.

The giant kangaroo rat, like many other rodent species, lost much of its habitat as the Central Valley fell under agricultural use.

Besides some projects currently underway in the Carrizo Plain National Monument, studies need to be conducted on populations whose range overlaps with private lands.

Recovery of the giant kangaroo rat can be achieved when the three largest populations in eastern Kern County, Carrizo Plain Natural Area, and the Panoche Region along with the populations in the Kettleman Hills, San Juan Creek Valley and Cuyama Valley are protected and managed appropriately.

[4] In a unique case, a giant kangaroo rat population was found during the construction of the second track at Buttonwillow Raceway Park.

This recovery plan established the Small Mammal Monitoring Project, focusing on adaptive management and promoting the growth of grasslands with low vegetation.

[6] In 2017, a combination of trapping and satellite imaging was used to determine habitat suitability and conduct and index of presence in the San Joaquin Desert.

Since burrow mounds are fairly large, typically inhabited by one rat, and uniformly spaced apart, this made it possible to use aerial surveys and Google Earth satellite imagery.