FASCINATING RAT FACTS

FASCINATING

RATS ARE KNOWN AS BEING SOCIAL AND AFFECTIONATE ANIMALS. THEY ENJOY THE COMPANY OF OTHER RATS, WHILE DOMESTIC RATS LOVE BEING WITH HUMANS.

Rats are mammals, referred to as “rodents”, because they belong to the scientific order of Rodentia. Rodents can be described as a group of small, non-flying mammals with large, sharp front teeth.There are over 52 species of rats that have been discovered.

Some rats live in communities in which they groom each other, sleep together and even play.

Rats are territorial, so they can turn aggressive toward unfamiliar rats. A group of rats is called a “mischief”.

Male rats are called bucks, while female rats are called does. Rats are mainly nocturnal (active at night) and live mostly underground. Antarctica is the only continent uninhabited by rats. There are rats who live in the wilderness, such as forests and woods, and others in fields and meadows. Some rats, like the wild tree rat, live on tropical islands.

Rats can thrive in a multitude of environmental conditions and adapt their diet to their resources. Rats are colour blind and have very poor eyesight but have an incredibly strong sense of smell.

According to some studies, rats have excellent memories and can memorize a route after having navigated it once. When a rat is happy, they chatter or grind their teeth.

RATS CAN REGULATE THEIR BODY TEMPERATURE BY EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING THE BLOOD VESSELS IN THEIR TAILS. A RAT’S TAIL ALSO HELPS THEM TO BALANCE.

Rats communicate through body language, touch, smell and sound. They’re also great swimmers and can hold their breath for several minutes. Rats’ teeth can grow up to 12 cm per year, so it’s important for them to chew on things to wear them down.

The tooth enamel of rats is said to be very strong, with some people believing it to be stronger than steel.

The maturity of rats can be shown by their yellow teeth, while baby rats, initially, have white teeth.

A rat’s eyes are on either side of their head and can move in opposite directions.

Rats can hear extremely well, picking up sounds that are too high-pitched for humans to hear.

A rat’s whiskers are very sensitive. They will brush the long hairs against any objects, helping them build up a detailed picture of their environment.

Although very curious animals, rats are also shy. They would rather run away from than confront a potential threat. Rats will spend several hours every day grooming themselves and their group members. They wash themselves by constantly licking their fur.

Rats take care of sick and injured members of their group. Without companionship, rats tend to get lonely and depressed, according to some studies.

THE LIFE SPAN OF A RAT VARIES BETWEEN SPECIES, BUT THE AVERAGE LIFESPAN OF A RAT IN THE WILD IS ONE YEAR (DUE TO PREDATORS).

Rat

FACTS

A rat can go longer than a camel without having a drink of water. Their ideal diet consists of a good amount of vegetables and fruits. Like hamsters stuffing their cheeks, rats hoard food for later. Rats cannot go for more than 4 days without food.

IN THE WILD, RATS WILL EAT THINGS LIKE FRUIT, SEEDS AND PLANTS, AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE VEGETARIANS.

City rats like to eat garbage. They will consume things like pet food and any human food that they come across, even meat.

According to some studies done by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rats and mice can spread over 40 diseases, including the bubonic plague, typhus and leptospirosis.

THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR AN OUTBREAK OF MONKEY

POX IN 2003.

RATS DESTROY ABOUT 20% OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS WORLDWIDE EACH YEAR.

One of the familiar facts about rats is their ability to breed in a short time span. A female rat can reproduce approximately every three weeks.

WHEN SHE GIVES BIRTH, THE LITTER TYPICALLY CONTAINS ANYTHING FROM 6 TO 20 BABIES. THESE BABY RATS BECOME SEXUALLY MATURE WHEN THEY’RE THREE TO FOUR MONTHS OLD.

Rats can be trained to do several tricks, and will also learn their name.

SCIENTISTS HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT SOME RATS MIGHT HAVE DREAMS.

Because most rodents are small, rats are the perfect bite-size meal for birds of prey (like hawks and owls), felines (cats), reptiles (snakes), dogs, and other carnivorous animals.

Some female rats can go into heat as quickly as 10 to 24 hours after giving birth - this phenomenon is known as “Postpartum Estrus”.

A FEMALE RAT CAN MATE AS MANY AS 500 TIMES.

Baby rats are born with their eyes closed and are helpless without parental care. Their eyes open between 12 and 17 days after birth, and they are independent by 21 days. Infants, or baby rats, are called pups or kittens.

In addition to material such as wood, rats can also gnaw through lead, cinder blocks, soft concrete, plastic and aluminium sheeting.

REMEMBERING OUR CANINE HEROES THIS HERITAGE DAY

There is kind of heritage that transcends cultures, creeds, and beliefs. It’s a heritage that bubbles up as nostalgia from when you were a child, and you first fell in love with the stories of your animal heroes.

Some stories were fables, some were fiction, and yet other were true tales burnt into the memory of our country. Celebrating Heritage Day with a good South Africa story doesn’t get better than the adventures of our country’s legendary dogs, Jock of the Bushveld and Navy Veteran Just Nuisance.

Jock of the Bushveldt

First published in 1907, Jock of the Bushveld is a collection of true stories that author, Percy Fitzpatrick told his four children about his travels in the old Transvaal with Jock, his Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Although not the strongest in his litter at birth, Jock grew into a brave and fiercely loyal companion that accompanied Percy on several adventures. Percy had just shot a kudu bull and, undeterred by its massive size, Jock tried to take the Kudu down. In an epic battle between the two animals, Jock’s immense courage, and his loyalty to Percy, earned him a spot among legends.

The book is a truly unforgettable tale of the emotional bond that we can develop with our pets and that they develop with us. On a deeper level, Jock’s story also shows us how our dogs can form part of our family and, therefore, are key characters in our own life stories.

This particular story has been told for over a hundred years and is a fond part of the childhood memories of millions of South Africans.

Just Nuisance

Born 1 April 1937, Just Nuisance got his name by loitering his way into the hearts of the servicemen at Simon’s Town Naval Base. The Great Dane would often curl up on top of the gangplank of docked Royal Navy ships, making it very difficult for anyone to get past.

Just Nuisance also made a habit of hopping the train, either with sailors on shore leave or by himself.

A bronze statue of Just Nuisance stands in Jubilee Square, in picturesque Simonstown; make sure to stop by for a look! Eventually the railway company threatened to put him down. Word reached the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Navy, who enlisted Just Nuisance to issue him with a free pass for train travel.

As a fully-fledged member of the Royal Navy, his misconducts soon stacked up - going AWOL, sleeping in the Petty Officer’s dormitory, losing his collar, and, of course, taking the train without his free pass.

Just Nuisance also sired 5 beautiful puppies who were auctioned off for quite a sum by the Mayor of Cape Town to raise funds for the war.

On 1 January 1944, after almost 5 years of service, Just Nuisance was discharged from the navy. With deteriorating health after a car accident, the navy took the decision to put him down. On 1 April, the day of his seventh birthday, Just Nuisance was transported to the naval grounds one last time. Here, at the naval hospital, he was gently put down by the surgeon.

The following day he was buried by his fellow sailors with full honours, as a canine legend known the world over.

So, while you’re having a braai this Heritage Day, cheers to our history and to the pups whose stories have become legends.

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