What or who inspired Sleator to write the book, The Beasties?

It is often hard to tell what were the sources of inspiration for a novel, but Sleator provides a clue before the novel begins by noting, "The author would like to thank his brother Tycho B. Sleator for telling him about mole rats." Mix this inspiration with Sleator's recurring interest in environmental concerns, and we readers are afforded a brief glimpse into how a novel may have been inspired.