Wild Rats

I claimed to be an animal lover, but was scared of rats! This realization dawned on me long after I had shed tears for the rats that were drowned in the sea in the "Pied Piper of Hamlin." As I grew up still scared of rats, I was also filled with an innate desire to know more about them. This hunger revealed many facts, some of which I had already read in text books. I would like to share some of my newer findings with you, here they are:

The Prominence of Rats in Eastern Cultures

The rat is the first of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. It is said that people born in the year of the rat possess qualities associated with them, some of them being honesty, creativity, ambition, wastefulness and a quick temper.

In India, this mammal is recognized as the vehicle of Lord Ganesh. As one travels to the northwestern Indian city of Deshnoke, one will find rats at the Karni Mata temple. These rats are destined to be reincarnated as Sadhus (Holy Hindu men). At this temple, it is believed that eating food that has been touched by rats is a blessing.

Facts about Wild Rats

• Wild rats originated in Asia and reached other parts of the world mostly onboard ships.
• These mammals are a part of the rodent family and are scientifically known as Rattus norvegicus.
• These rats have pointed noses and hairless feet.
• Wild rats are omnivores and eat a variety of animals and plants.
• These rodents live in burrows that are situated near their favourite source of water and food.
• Unfortunately, wild rats have a very short life span which comprises of only a year.
• Breeding for wild rats begin when they are about 3 to 4 months of age with the gestation period lasting for about 21 to 22 days. Within this span the female rat is able to produce up to 7 litters per year with each litter consisting of about 6 to 22 young ones.
• Wild rats are able to burrow, climb, jump and gnaw. This ability along with the highly sophisticated senses that they possess helps them gain access to a variety of places.
• These mammals are adaptable, aggressive and active.
• Society does not accept wild rats because they spread diseases, contaminate food and damage structures too. Their gnawing ability can cause damage to buildings, wiring systems and pipe work. Apart from this, these mammals also carry diseases like the plague, Weil’s disease, toxoplasmosis and salmonella food poisoning, all of which are potentially fatal to man.
• Wild rats are of two types – the roof or black rat and the brown or Norway rat. The distinguishing feature of the black rat is that it has a tail that is longer than its body. This rat is about 8 inches long. The brown rat is about 10 inches long and has a tail that is shorter than the rest of its body. The types of rats mentioned above also differ in their food preferences, habits and region.