Why Do Rats Eat Their Babies?
WouterMany people wonder why do rats eat their babies. In fact, this behavior is more common in the animal kingdom than most people realize. This behavior is a result of various factors, including stress, fear of predators, and a lack of food. In some cases, the mother rat will eat her babies to prevent the kits from suffering.
It is known that the mother rat will ingest the placenta, which is a natural process for a mother to perform. This process is called placentophagy, and is very healthy for the mother. The placenta contains high amounts of prostaglandin, which stimulates the involution of the uterus, and it also contains small amounts of oxytocin, which eases the stress of childbirth and promotes lactation. Once the babies have been ingested, the mother will retrieve them and place them in a nest. They are usually picked by the nape of the neck or the back.
In addition to consuming the pups, mother rats also lick them, causing them to be prone to disease and being killed by the mother. Extensive feeding can lead to ear chewing or even total demise of the pups. The pups also have a complex system of learning that requires them to recognize the odour of their mother and attach to her nipples. As a result, many researchers believe that the primary cause of rats consuming their babies is Postpartum Depression, a condition in which the hormones of a mother drop quickly and are not able to maintain the normal behaviours of their newborns.
The mother will take care of her infants for the first few weeks after they have been born. This requires a lot of energy and requires food in order to continue the feeding process. Moreover, sudden noises and disturbances will cause her to become stressed and may result in infanticide.
