Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / February 2004

I was just reading about rats and I found this article from 2001.
I thought it was interesting.

Big Increase in Rat Numbers Expected

LONDON, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Britain's rat population is expected to soar
in the next decade because rodents there have discovered a new and
plentiful food source in the country's waterways -- freshwater
mussels.

Zoologists say rats have learned how to shell and eat mussels after
diving to retrieve them, The Times of London reported Wednesday.

"Mussels are present throughout Britain's waterways," said David
Aldridge, a zoologist at Cambridge University.  "The potential problem
is that the rats could spread throughout the country using waterways."

Local residents have reported an increase in rat sightings, with one
person shooting 30 in his garden, Aldridge said.

Draining rivers to prevent flooding is one possible explanation for
rats learning about the new food source, the report said.

"Levels can get very low and expose the mussels and that's how the
rats have discovered them," Aldridge said.

"They take one at a time and bring it back to the river bank where
they eat it.  Each rat has its own pile of mussels.  Rats are very
clever."

Wednesday, 19 September 2001 3:30 (ET)