The Rat – Kidscurrent

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Neat to know ~ Creature of the week

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Brown Rat

Photo: Gerhard G, Pixabay

The Rat

2020-12-26

– The humble rat. For such a small creature, it elicits big reactions. Some people consider it to be a creepy pest that must be exterminated. Others keep rats as beloved pets.

– Down through the ages, on every one of humankind’s odysseys around the globe and wherever we chose to make our homes, rats were right there by our sides. They figured out that where there were humans, there was also food. That’s why certain species of rat, like the Norway rat (or brown rat), are found on every continent, except Antarctica.

– There are more than 60 rat species, most of which are native to the tropics and subtropics of Asia. They are often confused with mice, but they are actually quite different from those close cousins. On average, they are larger than mice, with leaner bodies and longer legs. That being said, rat species can vary significantly in size. The largest, the Bosavi wooly rat, was first spotted in Papua New Guinea in 2009. It is almost as big as a cat! On the other hand, Osgood’s Vietnamese rat is the smallest at only 5-7 inches from nose to tail.

– While some types of rat have large populations that have adapted to life alongside humans, 16 species are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. The usual reasons for their decline apply; their natural habitats are being destroyed, they are being killed at high rates, and their dwindling populations are not able to recover fast enough.

Read on to learn more about the surprisingly relatable rat.

Rat families are BIG

Female brown rats can have as many as 2,000 babies in a single year! They give birth to litters of usually about eight or nine offspring, but some rats have over 20 young at a time.
At just three months of age, a female brown rat is ready to have babies.
To prepare for her new family, a rat will build a nest, She is resourceful, using any materials she can find – like branches, leaves, and even trash – to construct her home. Rats generally choose spots that are protected, like in the nooks and crannies of buildings or trees.
The typical lifespan of a brown rat is two to three years. House rats, however, often die before they reach the age of one.

Ratty behavior

Rats are not picky eaters. In the natural world, they eat insects, snails, and small fish, as well as birds and some small mammals and reptiles. When living among humans, rats eat whatever is left lying around.
They have incredible teeth that seem to be able to cut through almost anything, including wood, plastic, and even certain metals and concrete! Rats’ teeth never stop growing. They keep their teeth at a manageable length by regularly biting into tough materials, which wears the teeth down.
While their eyesight is poor, rats have other clever ways of navigating within their environments. Their whiskers are extremely sensitive. By feeling their way around with their long whiskers, they can create mental maps of an area. Rats also have excellent hearing. They are able to pick up many high-pitched sounds that are inaudible to humans. Finally, rats have a far more sophisticated sense of smell than we humans do. The smells of the environment are as varied as the colors and textures we perceive with our eyes. Rats are able to discern this “mosaic” of odors that eludes us and thus rely far less upon eyesight.
Contrary to popular belief, rats are highly attentive to cleanliness. They lick their fur and even comb through it with their teeth, multiple times each day. It may surprise you to know that they are less likely to carry parasites than pets like dogs and cats!
Rats’ long tails aren’t just for looks. They help rats keep their balance as they scurry about. Rats also use their tails to send signals to other rats. And, a rat’s tail helps it keep cool. Heat is transferred from other body parts to the tail.
Did you know that rats can swim? They are agile in the water and can hold their breath for long periods of time.

Smarter than you thought

Rats are often considered to be nothing but pesky intruders who think only of their next meal. But in reality, they have a lot going on in their tiny active brains. Studies have shown that they are able to learn new things and solve problems, as well as – and sometimes better than – dogs. They also have exceptional powers of memory. For example, they are able to retain mental maps of their environment, as well as travel routes that they use regularly, not thanks to their eyesight, which is poor, but because of their senses of touch and smell and their ability to record and retain information.
Rats seem to be emotionally intelligent, too. Studies have shown that rats are capable of empathy. Researchers noticed that when rats saw that others in their group were under stress (they were made to tread water), they opted for sharing in the stress by trying to help the other rats, rather than taking chocolate that was offered to them. Other studies point to rats’ ability to tell when other rats express pain on their faces. (Please note, these studies are questionable, since rats were in fact made to suffer.)
Rats have been known to react when called by their names.
They have been observed expressing “happiness,” too. Rats made certain specific sounds with their teeth and movements with their eyes that seemed to display contentment and a sense of comfort.
Rats are often inquisitive. At the same time, they avoid confrontation and shy away from anything that might pose a threat.

Rats aren’t loners

Rats generally live in groups called “mischiefs” (also, the less colorful, “packs”).
They are active communicators, using a language of squeaks that are too high-pitched for us to hear. They also use touch and smell to transmit information to one another.
The bonds among rats in a group are strong. Rats show affection for one another, are devoted to the welfare of their families, and will unite against a common threat. They take care of the weakest members of the group.
Rats care what others think of them. They have shown a tendency to mimic the behaviors of others in their group, in an effort to “fit in.”
When rats are left alone, they exhibit signs of stress, perturbation, and depression.
The social behavior of rats in their groups is carried over to their relationships with humans. As pets, rats can become very attached to their owners. They respond to petting and seek out the company of their humans. They also demonstrate signs of stress and grieving when left without their owners.

Sources: peta.org, “Hidden Lives of Rats and Mice,” https://www.peta.org/features/hidden-lives-rats-mice/; National Geographic Kids, “10 facts about rats,” https://www.natgeokids.com//facts-about-rats/; Bradford, Alina, Live Science, “Facts About Rats,” https://www.livescience.com/rats.html, September 30, 2015; One Kind Planet, “Rat,” https://onekindplanet.org/animal/rat/; Tikkanen, Amy, Britannica, “8 Interesting Facts About Rats,” https://www.britannica.com/list/facts-about-rats.