Giant Rats Detecting Tuberculosis

[Enzo Cub Find all posts View Profile Close Enzo]

I have had many pet rats over the years. A lot of people do not realize how intelligent they are. You can teach a pet rat many tricks just as you would with your dog. Though I have never had a Gambian Pouched Rat as a pet, they have always intrigued me. I happened to stumble across this video...I love how animals will always continue to amaze me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrp2UgbYJn4

[LPC Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close LPC]

Re: Giant Rats Detecting Tuberculosis

That's a fascinating video, Enzo. Thank you for posting it. For countless centuries, rats have been dismissed as "vermin", but we humans are beginning to realise (not before time!) that all creatures have intelligence and that we can work with THEIR help.

[knightofalbion Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close knightofalbion]

Re: Giant Rats Detecting Tuberculosis

Amazing!

Extraordinary things rats. I had one in my garden shed a while back. Engaged in a (non-violent) battle of wills with the blighter! He was an athlete of Olympic proportions! I'll say that for him.

[Tobi Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tobi]

Re: Giant Rats Detecting Tuberculosis

Aren't those rats amazing! And they are happy to help, for a treat of mashed banana. I just hope the rats have some life outside of the boxes where they receive training....

Aww! That is some tough rat, to be willing to do battle with a Knight!

I quite like them because I admire their resilience and intelligence. They make very loving and loyal pets apparently. But I would not encourage a wild rat to take up residence near my kitchen! They CAN transmit Weil's disease via their urine, and can also transmit Leptospirosis which affects dogs. This is usually caught from standing water where rodents have been.

So that rat would be wise to make his/her home away from your garden shed. It is turning to Spring now, so I am sure the rat can find somewhere decent to go!

[knightofalbion Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close knightofalbion]

Re: Giant Rats Detecting Tuberculosis

Fear not, 'Derek' has gone to the big rat hole in the sky. No longer in the shed, nor climbing my trees, leaping in the dark onto my roof or exploring my attic and cavity walls ...

It was natural causes...

[Tobi Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tobi]

Re: Giant Rats Detecting Tuberculosis

Oh dear....Derek has now left this World? Maybe that's why he headed for the garden shed. To rest up and hide because he didn't feel so good....

[LPC Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close LPC]

Re: Giant Rats Detecting Tuberculosis

Tobi, you rightly draw attention to the issue of some diseases which can be spread by wild rats. However, pet rats are usually bred in captivity in a clean environment, and often are health checked before being sold - at least, from what I have read, as I have never had a pet rat. As you know, I'm a dog person (and also love cats).

Any member or visitor reading this thread should note that in the case of wild rats, there is a small risk to health, but according to these two websites (amongst others), Weil's Disease (leptospirosis) can be transmitted via rats, cattle, pigs and dogs. If they are infected, and if their urine goes into water (e.g. a pond, canal, or stream), and if a human has a cut, the disease can enter the body. The main risk is in tropical countries, apparently. See
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/lept...-weils-disease
and
http://www.rospa.com/leisuresafety/a...s-disease.aspx

The best way to avoid risk of infection is to avoid swimming in ponds, lakes and streams, especially if you have a cut or open wound.

Noble Knight, I wonder why Derek spent so much time near your home. Nice ambiance, perhaps?! We had trouble here in France, when mice kept on eating our stored fruit and potatoes in the cellar. We wouldn't dream of harming them, so installed a few ultrasonic devices (which emit an intermittent sound which mice and rats don't like). A few dared to continue, despite those devices, so we put in a few homemade, humane traps and then returned the mice to the wild away from our home.

[knightofalbion Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close knightofalbion]

Re: Giant Rats Detecting Tuberculosis

Oh dear....Derek has now left this World? Maybe that's why he headed for the garden shed. To rest up and hide because he didn't feel so good....

No, he was in fine fettle. His passing was, as far as I could tell, down to old age.

[knightofalbion Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close knightofalbion]

Re: Giant Rats Detecting Tuberculosis

Noble Knight, I wonder why Derek spent so much time near your home. Nice ambiance, perhaps?! We had trouble here in France, when mice kept on eating our stored fruit and potatoes in the cellar. We wouldn't dream of harming them, so installed a few ultrasonic devices (which emit an intermittent sound which mice and rats don't like). A few dared to continue, despite those devices, so we put in a few homemade, humane traps and then returned the mice to the wild away from our home.

My cosy shed I would think!

I learnt much from dear old Derek. Not only how to deter rats, but about myself.

Resorting to killing and violence, much like hating someone, you lose something in yourself - purity of soul.
Always there is a (non-violent) way to peacefully co-exist. If you desire to look for it ....