Are Rats Always Bad?
WouterRats are a common household pest, and they can be a nuisance. They are also dangerous because they can transmit dangerous diseases. One example is leptospirosis, which is a bacterial infection transmitted by rats. It can cause severe, sometimes fatal, infections, and can spread from animal to human through the urine and feces. Other diseases caused by rats include rat-bite fever, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, and cryptosporidiosis.
Although rats have a bad reputation, this stereotype is not entirely accurate. In fact, some cultures have embraced the rodent. For example, James Herbert wrote gory novels about giant black rats running rampant in a post-apocalyptic world. In Nineteen Eighty-Four, Winston Smith’s greatest fear is the visit to Room 101.
Rats are notoriously difficult to trap. The cunning nature of rats means that they are hard to catch, especially when in groups. Rats communicate with each other by emitting an ultrasonic secret language. The chitters and squeaks they emit are constant updates of what is happening around them. This enables them to warn each other when there’s danger.
Because of their ability to break into food stores, rats are often considered intelligent and cunning animals. But when you corner them, you’ll often see the opposite behavior. The rat might attack, while the mouse may flee. Both types of animals are low in the food chain, which means that they have many predators. Still, they are not completely bad. Rats and mice are great role models for kids because they take risks.
