How Do Rats Take Care of Their Young?
WouterMother rats know how to take care of their young, but sometimes there are problems. The mother may become stressed and kill her young, but this is rare and can be prevented by removing the baby and letting the mother settle down. Once the mother has calmed down, the babies can be returned to the mother.
Babies are not able to keep themselves warm until they are about two weeks old, so a warm environment is important. A heating pad, light bulb, or hot water bottle will do the trick. If you cannot provide a hot water bottle or heating pad, a small weather thermometer will do the trick. Make sure to reheat the object periodically.
Rats take care of their young differently than mice. While most mammals relegate parental duties to the mother, the males in common house mice often pitch in, especially after they sire their own offspring. While rats are never born with a parental instinct, they can still help with caretaking. Scientists like Stefanos Stagkourakis have examined the differences between the two species.
Rats may be more likely to share care of their young if they have close relationships with their mother. Communal nesting may also protect their young from predators. But in captivity, this method doesn’t seem to enhance survival of the litter. Moreover, it may actually cause a higher death rate.
