Do Rats Serve Any Useful Purpose?
WouterRats are nocturnal animals. That means they leave their nests when dusk falls. They are also incredibly clever at hiding and do not come to light. These traits allow them to live in large numbers without human knowledge. Although they are less docile than mice, they do quickly adjust to their new environment, routines, and foods. This makes them a useful pet in a number of applications.
Rats are also beneficial to humans and other animals. Although they are a nuisance to many people, their presence has been proven to be useful to other animals. Rats, for instance, eat food, chew walls, and leave droppings all over the environment. The waste they leave behind can contain dangerous pathogens and bacteria. These animals have also been implicated in plagues, and their presence is often a sign of their population’s health problem.
Rats have extremely strong teeth and jaws. Because of this, they need to chew constantly to keep their teeth sharp. Rats are capable of chewing through a wide variety of materials, including siding, woodpiles, and concrete slabs. They also chew through existing holes and can even swim up pipes. This is why rat control methods must be combined with prevention.
In India, rats are viewed as Ganesha’s vehicle. Ganesh temples are often adorned with a rat statue. In Belgium, the charity Apopo trains a giant pouched rat to search for landmines. Rats can also sniff out tuberculosis samples.
