Buzz
There might be no other group of mammals as universally disliked as rodents. We often consider them pests and would rather eliminate them than allow them on our premises. Though their gleaming eyes and quick movements in the shadows can be unsettling, rodents are often unfairly blamed and actually boast some impressive traits that earn them our admiration.
10. Incredible Defenders of Themselves
While aggression may not be the first trait we associate with rodents, they are actually adept at defending themselves and can be surprisingly dangerous (just remember the man-eating beaver or the giant rats devouring babies?).
While most rodents rely on quick escapes (and, when necessary, their incredibly strong jaws and teeth) to stay out of harm’s way, there’s one rat that takes things up a notch: the African crested or maned rat. This remarkable creature can unleash poison on its attackers, all while looking incredibly stylish with its mohawk that holds the toxic substance.
For years, scientists were baffled by what made this large, porcupine-like rat toxic, but recently, they uncovered the secret: the rat chews on the “poison-arrow plant” and then licks the poison into the hollow hairs along its back. When threatened, it arches its back, flattens its regular fur, and raises its toxic mohawk. Any predator that dares to bite into the furry menace will end up with a deadly mouthful of poison, potentially leading to severe illness or death.
For thousands of years, African tribesmen have used the same plant to poison their arrows, enabling them to hunt game as large as elephants. But astonishingly, the maned rat can coat itself in the heart attack-inducing toxin without suffering any ill effects.
9. It May Not Have Been Responsible for the Black Plague
For years, well-meaning history teachers taught us that flea-infested rats were the culprits behind the bubonic plague that wiped out 20 million people in medieval Europe. As a result, we were led to believe rats were nothing more than four-legged death machines with built-in biological weapons. However, recent research into the plague has cast doubt on this theory, suggesting flea-carrying rats may not have been responsible after all.
The black plague spread most rapidly during the winter months, and it’s this fact that has archaeologist Barney Sloane and others questioning the traditional story. Sloane believes rats and fleas couldn’t have been the vectors for the plague, since they are largely dormant in the winter. This would imply the infection rate should have decreased during those months, rather than surged.
Additionally, despite the millions of deaths and mass graves filled with human skeletons, there’s no evidence of a similar death toll among rats. Rodents are not immune to the plague, so it stands to reason that if they had been the carriers, we should have uncovered large piles of rat remains as well.
Sloane’s final point is that the modern-day spread of bubonic plague differs significantly from the accounts of the 1300s. Today, the plague usually spreads only directly from rat (or flea) to human. In contrast, the black plague of the Middle Ages seemed to spread rapidly from person to person.
8. Could Help Us Unravel The Mysteries of the Afterlife
The question of what happens to us after death has perplexed humanity for ages. Those who believe in an afterlife often point to numerous near-death experiences as evidence that our consciousness continues to exist beyond our physical bodies. Many of these experiences, such as seeing a bright light or feeling like they’re floating, are so similar that even scientists acknowledge some kind of strange brain activity occurs around the time of death. However, whether this phenomenon is paranormal or simply physiological remains a point of contention.
Thanks to some lab rats, however, scientists are now inching closer to understanding near-death experiences. In one fascinating study, a team of researchers monitored the brain activity of nine rats as they were being euthanized. To their amazement, the rats’ brains didn’t just keep functioning after their hearts stopped—they actually went into overdrive, entering a state of “hyperconsciousness.”
Despite these findings, the researchers do not believe they prove the existence of an afterlife. Instead, they suggest that the heightened brain activity is simply the brain’s desperate attempt to “save” itself, which may account for the so-called near-death experiences.
7. Could Hold the Secret to Curing Baldness
It would be amazing if rodents could help us find a cure for cancer (they just might) and other serious ailments. But, in addition to those life-threatening diseases, there’s a more superficial issue we’d like them to solve: baldness. Fortunately, there’s a bit of hope on the horizon. Japanese scientists have successfully regrown hair on a bald mouse and are now aiming to apply the technology to people dealing with hair loss.
The researchers managed to give the bald mouse its new luscious locks by implanting cultivated hair follicles alongside human stem cells. After three weeks, 74 percent of the follicles took root and developed into black, human-like hair. Not only did the hair grow, but it also fell out and grew back in cycles, just like natural human hair.
6. The Most Successful Mammals to Ever Live
Regardless of how we feel about rodents, their survival rate on Earth is undeniable. In fact, scientists have hailed their lineage as the most successful and long-lasting group of mammals in history.
A recent discovery has confirmed this idea with the finding of a 160-million-year-old rodent fossil. The creature, a type of multituberculate, resembled the modern African dormouse and lived alongside dinosaurs for over 100 million years. Remarkably, it continued to thrive for 30 million years after the dinosaurs went extinct. This rodent was an omnivore, roughly the size of a rat, and scurried about much like today's rodents.
No other mammal species, including humans, has managed to last this long. Will we be able to surpass this record?
5. Own Their Own Island
Rat infestations are a well-known problem for many islands. While numerous regions have succeeded in ridding themselves of the furry invaders, there are still plenty of places where rodents are dominating the land.
Consider the Farallon Islands, located off the coast of San Francisco. These islands are home to a diverse range of animals, including rare seabirds and sea lions. Yet, it’s the most common resident, the house mouse, that has turned this wildlife haven into a challenging nightmare. It is believed that the Farallon Islands have the highest mouse population density in the world, and the government remains uncertain about how to handle the situation.
The mice made their way to the islands about a century ago aboard a ship, and their numbers have since exploded, causing considerable harm to the native plants and animals. Poisoning the rodents is not a viable solution, as it would also harm other species. Authorities are currently brainstorming ways to eliminate the mice without jeopardizing the surrounding wildlife. Meanwhile, the mice continue to wreak havoc, depleting the island’s population of salamanders and vegetation.
4. They Provide Our Fur
While the thought of wearing a coat made from rat fur may seem horrifying and almost psychotic, there is one rodent whose fur is highly prized by the wealthy and famous: the chinchilla.
What many people don’t realize is that chinchillas are actually part of the order Rodentia, which means they share a family tree with moles, mice, rats, and other creatures that often inspire disgust. So, regardless of how luxurious someone feels wearing a chinchilla coat, they’re essentially draped in rodent fur.
In fact, this may become quite fashionable in the near future, as some avant-garde fashion designers have introduced collections that incorporate swamp rat fur. Many of these designers are based in Louisiana, where swamp rats are considered an invasive species wreaking havoc on the local ecosystem. The clothing is marketed as a “guilt-free” alternative to traditional fur, helping to manage the swamp rat population.
3. Rodents Of Extraordinary Size
Rodents of extraordinary size may seem like something out of a movie, but the real-life capybara proves they exist. Thankfully, this enormous creature (sometimes referred to as a water hog) is much more docile than its fictional counterparts. The massive animal can weigh up to 154 lbs and measure up to 130 centimeters (51 inches) in length.
Despite the impressive size of the capybara, it isn’t the largest rodent ever known to have existed. In South America, biologists unearthed a fossil of an ancient rat that weighed a staggering 1,000 kilograms (2,204 lbs). While you’d probably prefer not to encounter this enormous creature in the wild, it was not carnivorous and primarily fed on plants.
2. Primate-Level Intelligence
Metacognition, the ability to reflect on one’s own thinking, was once considered a cognitive trait unique to primates. However, in 2007, scientists found that rats, like humans, are capable of contemplating their own learning processes and making decisions based on what they do or do not know.
To discover this, researchers subjected rats to a series of tests where they could earn a large reward for choosing the correct answer, receive nothing for a wrong choice, or opt to skip the test and receive a small treat. Impressively, the rats tended to avoid challenging tests (preferring a guaranteed small reward over the risk of nothing) but were more willing to take the chance on easier tests in hopes of the larger prize. This behavior indicated that rats possess some awareness of their own cognitive abilities and make decisions accordingly.
We shouldn’t underestimate the cleverness of these creatures, especially considering that, as researcher Nate Kornell pointed out, “The mental processes of rats are more similar to ours than we thought.”
1. Inspired At Least Two Holidays
Thanks to ancient European customs, there’s one rodent that has won the affection of humans—well, at least for one day every year. We’re talking about the groundhog, celebrated on February 2 in both the US and Canada. On this day, eager crowds wait to see if Punxsutawney Phil (arguably the ruler of all rodents) will see his shadow, which foretells six more weeks of winter. While groundhogs are typically regarded as pests the other 364 days, they manage to charm us for a single day each year.
The second holiday that features a vermin is Rat Catcher’s Day, inspired by the legendary tale of the Pied Piper, the famous rat-catcher. Celebrated either on June 26 or July 22, this holiday originally had dark associations with child abduction, but now it’s a playful occasion. Though the day primarily honors those who rid us of rats, it’s intriguing that we commemorate a creature by celebrating those who eliminate it.
