Buzz
Few creatures evoke as much fear as rats. Once synonymous with death and disease, these creatures invade our nightmares, scurrying through the darkness with their long, scaly tails trailing behind them. Each year, rats cause billions of dollars in damage—destroying food, chewing through wires, and even biting infants in their cribs. Yet, their contributions to mankind have been remarkably significant. Continue reading for more unsettling details about these creepy neighbors.
10. Norway Rats
While numerous rat species exist, the Brown or Norway rat is the most commonly associated with the term 'rat.' Believed to have originated in China, the largest of these rats can weigh over 2.2 pounds. Norway rats are notorious in cities like New York (where estimates of their population range from a few hundred thousand to hundreds of millions) and London, and they have spread to nearly every part of the world—except for the Arctic and Antarctic regions, Alberta in Canada, and isolated areas of New Zealand. The white albino rats used in laboratories or as pets are domesticated versions of this species.
9. Black Rats
Black rats, once the dominant species in Europe, have been largely driven out by their larger and more aggressive cousins, the Brown Rats. While today they are typically found in tropical climates, it was the Black Rat that introduced the Black Plague. Fleas living on these rats carried the Yersinia pestis bacteria, which wiped out millions of unsuspecting victims. Known for their excellent climbing abilities, Black Rats have been a significant threat to bird populations worldwide, particularly in New Zealand. Unlike the Brown Rats, Black Rats tend to experience massive population surges, usually around harvest times when food is plentiful.
8. House Guests
It is nearly impossible to fully rat-proof your home. Rats can squeeze through openings as small as the size of a quarter. According to the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, a rat’s teeth are tougher than iron or steel, allowing them to gnaw through materials like cinderblock and wood with ease. Once they’ve infiltrated your home, getting rid of them is no easy task. Rats are intelligent and famously trap-shy. Poison isn’t without its risks either, being dangerous for children and pets. Even if it works as advertised, you still have to deal with the rats, who often hide in the walls to die, filling your home with the unbearable stench of decaying flesh.
7. Zombie Rats
Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite, can only complete its life cycle inside a cat’s body. While other animals can carry it, a cat is essential for the parasite’s full development. The parasite’s method of finding a host is devious—infected rats undergo a shift in brain chemistry that causes them to become attracted to the scent of felines, rather than fearing it as they normally would. Unsurprisingly, these rats don’t last long. Humans can also contract toxoplasmosis, with some estimates suggesting that one-third of the world’s population is infected. Though it can be fatal, it’s particularly dangerous for individuals with weakened immune systems and pregnant women (which is why they are advised to avoid cat litter boxes). Toxoplasmosis has also been linked to a variety of other health issues, including schizophrenia.
6. Rats are Tough
The global spread of rats wasn’t purely by chance. They are incredibly adaptable creatures. A rat can survive without water for longer than a camel, endure falls from heights of up to five stories without injury, withstand large doses of radiation, and swim for half a mile across open water. Over generations, they develop increasing resistance to poisons. The toughest, most aggressive sewer rats can even make an average house cat flee in terror.
5. What’s for Dinner?
While house cats may have largely lost their ability to hunt rats, many other animals rely on them as a primary food source. Owls, hawks, snakes, members of the weasel family, and many large predators consume rats. Several dog breeds have been specifically bred to hunt them, with terriers excelling at clearing vermin. In many parts of the world, rats are considered a food source. They are commonly eaten in Africa, China, and Southeast Asia. Even within the same country, attitudes towards rats as food can vary; in some areas of India, they are considered a delicacy, while in others, they are revered as sacred animals linked to the Hindu deity Ganesha.
4. Lab Rats
The significance of the laboratory rat in research cannot be overstated. Major advancements in the medical field have been made thanks to rats. There are several inbred strains, which are genetically identical, such as the Wistar, Sprague-Dawley, and Long-Evans rats. Through genetic manipulation, researchers have developed highly specific strains, including the Biobreeding rat, which develops Type 1 diabetes, and the Zucker rat, known for obesity. Recently, rats and mice have been utilized in tissue engineering, a controversial procedure in which rodents are used to grow skin and cartilage for human transplants.
3. Rat King
A rat king is a bizarre and rare phenomenon where a group of rats becomes hopelessly entangled by their tails. Several have been discovered since the Middle Ages, though many question the authenticity of these findings. Although not exclusive to Germany, most rat kings have been found there, leading some to believe it could be a cultural occurrence or even a hoax. The largest known rat king, a cluster of 32 mummified black rats, was discovered in a miller’s fireplace in Buchheim, Germany in 1828. It is currently on display at the Mauritianum Museum in Altenburg, Germany. Historically, rat kings have been seen as ominous symbols, often linked to death and disease.
2. Baby Boom
A single mating pair of rats can produce 5 litters of 7 to 15 pups each year, with the pups reaching fertility at just 5 weeks old. In a controlled environment, such a pair could theoretically generate hundreds of thousands, even millions, of descendants within a year. This rapid breeding rate is essential for the survival of the species, as wild rats rarely live to see their second birthday. Due to environmental factors, the mortality rate for rats in their first few weeks of life is approximately 95%.
1. Giant Rats
For those who are afraid of rodents, the Gambian Pouched Rat is a formidable creature. Resembling the Norway Rat, this version can grow as large as 15lbs. In its native Africa, it is consumed as bushmeat, but its keen intelligence and trainability have led to its use in detecting land mines. Despite its size, it is agile enough to navigate over mines without triggering them. The Gambian Pouched Rat has also proven adept at detecting tuberculosis. It can analyze human sputum samples and determine infection far more quickly than traditional scientific methods. Despite its imposing size, this giant rat is generally friendly and has gained popularity as an exotic pet. Ownership was briefly banned in the United States when it was discovered that these rats could carry the monkeypox virus.
