Where Does Rats Come From?
WouterRats are nocturnal animals that leave their nests at dusk. They are also very good at hiding, so they can live in large numbers without humans even knowing it. Compared to mice, rats are much more tolerant of change, and they can quickly adapt to a new environment, food, and routine.
Rats originated in Asia, where they inhabited burrows and ate plant matter. Around 200,000 years ago, they spread throughout the continent, including Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Their population increased dramatically in the European continent, and they were eventually introduced to North America. The rat’s geographic range has been shifted several times over the centuries, but the origins of these species remain unclear.
Rats live in many different environments, including buildings and warehouses. Some are native to the wild, while others are adapted to urban environments. They find warm, moist places to breed and feed, and they use these places to build nests. Because they feed off human waste and food scraps, they can grow in numbers in cities. Their spread was made easier by the development of the silk road trade route.
Rats have been part of human society for so long that they have become an integral part of the ecosystem. In some cities, rat populations even outnumber people. This is especially true of densely populated cities like New York, which has large amounts of food waste everywhere. Rats can travel from one area to another on foot, via drainage pipes, and even by swimming!
