WILD RATS: Dangerous Strangers -- or

Peace-seeking Neighbors?

by Mil Scott by Mil Scott

one of our much larger male (and these very odd humans should be “If you are dirty, insignificant in many cases female) pet cooing at him and stroking his and unloved then rats are the ulti- rats...and perhaps go back to their cheek. At no point, however, did mate role model.” families bearing tales of giant rat he show aggression of any kind, Banksy sightings similar to those spread by and by mid-spring we decided it It only stands to reason that the fearful humans -- except, of course, was time to make another move -- artist who penned the above quote that these poor rats‟ tales would be this time into the cage shared by (profiled on pp. 18-19 of this maga- true. his companion‟s siblings. Here, zine) should identify closely with In any case, until recently, my too, he adjusted quickly -- with the rats. After all, he functions largely impressions of wild rats were help of his now beloved female unseen and creates his art via a based largely on these TV observa- companion, who stayed close be- means widely deemed unaccepta- tions, coupled, of course, with vari- side him on an upper level blanket, ble. He has also earned both the ous facts I‟ve read. In February of continually grooming him and help- rewards of his persistence and var- this year, however, my husband ing him feel safe. And, while still ying degrees of opposition to his and I met our very first wild rat -- not entirely sure what to make of us unorthodox, underground methods. brought to us after being discov- peculiar humans, he‟s become a By the same token, his work ered in a storage shed and cap- fully accepted member of his inspires many toward a greater de- tured using a live trap. Given we adopted domestic rat family -- and, gree of compassion for the unno- knew nothing of him beyond his in the entire (now over five months) ticed and struggling inhabitants of wild status, we immediately dubbed time he‟s been with us, has never the world, many of which are hu- him Oscar (as in Wilde, of course) shown the slightest inclination to- man -- and some of which are rats. and, as we would with any other ward biting or any other gesture of If you‟ve been reading The Ro- newcomer, quarantined him for aggression. dent Reader Quarterly for some several weeks. Although we made time, you‟ve probably noticed I fre- sure to speak reassuringly to him quently include wild rats when every time we entered the room, speaking of the misunderstandings we learned little throughout this that plague the species as a whole, time; having given him a cozy hide- and have repeatedly encouraged away at the outset, Oscar spent so implementation of more humane much time hiding away we only methods to control them. I‟ve also knew he was in the cage by virtue shared my skepticism regarding of the food and water he was given stereotypes about rats the size of every night having disappeared by cats skulking about New York City. morning. In an age where literally millions of Finally, we moved him to a room people carry camera phones, if the- with other rats, and gave him a se creatures truly existed, photos of past breeding age female (who‟s them would have long since made particularly fond of human atten- Naturally, this new experience their way onto every local news tion) as a housemate. The two for us raised curiosity as to whether program -- not to mention across bonded quickly, and soon Oscar Oscar‟s behavior was unusual, and the country via youtube. Ironically, began spending more and more reminded me that I‟d occasionally when wild rats make their inevitable time outside the hideaway. This heard of others in pet rat circles appearance on the major networks allowed us to at last begin to see who had likewise adopted wilds. I every few weeks, I find it endlessly him a bit (revealing his very small decided to contact a few of these to amusing they‟re invariably so small size), and try to touch him, during make inquiries. One of the people I they would surely be frightened out which attempts his fear was evident contacted is a facebook friend of their wits were they to encounter -- as was his puzzlement as to why named Mindy, who lives in CA, and

4 The Rodent Reader Quarterly Heading Illustration: Peanut by Drusilla Kehl Photo: Oscar who raised a baby brought to her at custom portraits and other items to his wildlife rehabber sister in- just a few days old. She called him featuring rats (and other animals. stead of killing them. These 2 lived Hollywood, and fed him by hand You can visit her website at with 2 hairless girls (whom they until a foster domestic rat mom was www.illustratedrat.macwebsitebuild adored) and 2 mature females. able to take over. That‟s him below er.com) During the many years “While you might think all wild on the day his eyes opened. Drusilla lived in New York City, she rats are really smart, the Ground became known for her “insane rat love,” which led to people occasion- ally bring her wild rats, “rescued by kind souls,” she explains, “who saw a tiny scrap of fur on the sidewalk and could not walk by. In all cases, the rats were found between 2 and 3 weeks of age, before their eyes were open. I raised them, feeding them every 4 hours and losing some sleep. I used soy based baby formula, though many people say Zero girls were average. Peanut, on Over time he grew into a beauti- kitten formula is better. There are the other hand, was brilliant. As ful tame adult, and just celebrated good websites out there that give there were no babies available his third birthday in June. Regard- this kind of information. One I found when she was young, she grew up ing his personality, Mindy says, very useful and used myself is this: solo and we were her family. She “Hollywood is way different than my http://www.rathelp.org/ rode around on my shoulder and domesticated fancy rats. He is very FosteringYoung.html When the spent many hours out of her cage. vocal, makes all kinds of grunts and wild baby opens its eyes, it looks at “So,” Drusilla concludes, “it is noises that my others do not. He is you as mother and will bond with definitely possible to have a won- also much smaller than a typical you. Love and attention will com- derful loving relationship with a female fancy rat. He also has what I plete the process. Here is a picture tamed down wild rat. But I cannot call radar ears... they are very sen- of Peanut the day we got her: emphasize strongly enough, the sitive and constantly moving at any only way of doing so is to find an sound. He does know who his orphaned baby a few weeks old mommy is…[but] as he has gotten and raise it. If someone rescues older he is not so picky anymore as rats of 5 or 6 weeks of age it is too to who holds him. He is starting to late -- their instincts will have kicked show hind end paralysis, so it‟s in. They may learn to trust you over much easier to hold him and not as time, but they are not tame and nerve wracking being afraid that I probably not happy being confined. will not catch him if he decides to A baby raised by humans since be- leap away from me. He is definitely fore their eyes open will know noth- one of a kind as he has never (That‟s also Peanut in the draw- ing else. These observations come shown wild tendencies like many ing by Drusilla in the heading of this purely from my experience as a other wildings that I have rescued. article.) rescuer and rat lover. [Keep in Perhaps due to his hand feedings “It is indeed possible that the mind], technically it is not legal [in from the time of birth to a week old baby might have fleas or be injured. New York] and I am not advocating before a fancy rat took over and It is advisable to have it checked making pets of wild animals. But if raised him as one of her own. She out if you have a sympathetic vet. you are lucky enough to save and was a great mommy to him. He has None of mine had any illnesses or raise a wild baby as I have, you will also outlived all of the siblings that parasites. The baby will grow as rat find it very rewarding.” were born after him…He is my love. babies do; I found no difference in The perfect segue to this clarifi- “He‟s a licker, too,” Mindy adds. their behavior from domestic rats. cation having been provided by “Gives me kisses all the time.” In several cases, I introduced the those concluding words, I should Mindy‟s experience seems to wild baby to domestic babies at point out here that in contacting have been largely echoed by that of about 5 or 6 weeks old. As an ex- Drusilla about info for an article on Drusilla, a domestic rat lover who‟s ample I will show you 2 pictures of wild rats, I didn‟t discuss what angle combined her passion for these the Ground Zero Girls, from a litter the article might take or my

beloved little friends with her back- found at the Ground Zero construc-

( ground in commercial art to create tion site by a worker who took them cont’d on p. 6)

Left Photo: Hollywood, Middle Photo: Peanut, Right Photo: One of the “Ground Zero courtesy of his owner, courtesy of Drusilla Girls” and a hairless friend, courtesy of The Rodent Reader Quarterly 5 tempt to do my gerated. As I‟ve noted before, fol- part in setting the lowing the infamous 2007 incident, record straight.” wherein rats were filmed roaming As an aid in inside a Taco Bell after hours, a that, it occurred to New York Times article quoted Dr. me to make one Thomas R. Frieden, commissioner additional inquiry. of the Department of Health and As previously not- Mental Hygiene on this topic. ed, despite all ste- “Calling rats „an unfortunate fact of reotypes to the urban life,‟ he said that they were contrary, I‟ve never not associated with illness in New seen wild rats of York City, but that the department significant size on needed to do better in ensuring New York local that restaurants prevent and con- news or in photos. trol infestations.” I therefore asked While I believe we all agree no Drusilla, “How big one wants to discover rats taking were the wild rats up residence in food establish- reasons for writing it in the first you knew in general? Were any ments, those who heard the recent place. I therefore decided to very large? How did they compare story of a man who died from the amend this by sending her the fol- to the size of fancy rats – which I rodent transmitted Hantavirus -- a lowing explanation. realize varies tremendously, mak- tragedy, we surely also agree -- “Lest this be a concern, I want- ing that a bit difficult to character- may have read the above quote ed to let you know the article isn‟t ize very simply.” and be crying out in objection. I intended as an encouragement for She replied that “the wilds I had only hope these also heard the adopting wild rats, or the pros and were of average size. However I rest of the story as reported by cons of doing so. Rather, I‟m hop- have to say that the brothers of the CBS2. This case was only the ing to inspire compassion for these Ground Zero girls grew enormous! fourth incidence (total, not annual- and perhaps aid in seeing humane (And fat). I think, just like with our ly) of Hantavirus (which has a mor- control methods implemented by pets, genetics makes the differ- tality rate of 38%) in New York City refuting misconceptions with the ence. And the wild rats I've seen in since 1994. To put this in perspec- actual experiences of those the park or subway were of aver- tive, there have been seven heat- who‟ve known wild rats „up close age size. Consider logically, if you related deaths in NYC so far this and personal,‟ so to speak. And, were a wild rat hiding and running year alone -- meaning it‟s more of course, I‟d like to see it help through small spaces, size would dangerous to simply live in the city change the perception of rats in be a disadvantage.” in summer than to encounter one general, as all of us rat lovers are Indeed, it would. Of course, the of its wild rats. Another New York constantly working to do. You matter of size is not the only urban City rat rescuer offered her own may have read the smattering of legend regarding wild rats. Their strong words on the topic of ro- boldly ignorant comments posted image as rampant transmitters of dentphobia. in response to the recent NY Daily disease is likewise greatly exag- News article [i.e. the May 28th Critters column by Amy Sacks, in which The Rodent Reader Quar- terly was very kindly mentioned], claiming its author‟s description of their size surely inaccurate, de- claring them disease-ridden, etc. – nothing new, to be sure, but always a bit maddening, nonethe- less. In any case, this renewed reminder of the rampant misinfor- mation so widely accepted about rats, coupled with our having a wild rat (adult) brought to us to care for (for the first time) a few months ago, have led me to at-

6 The Rodent Reader Quarterly Photos courtesy of Drusilla Kehl Top: Peanut Bottom: Ground Zero girls “I feel that public perception tics. It is known among people who For more info about The Rodent needs to change,” Lisa said, “at come into contact with wild rats Reader Quarterly, or to sub- least among any thoughtful human that they can be tamed, or scribe, visit being. These animals are part of 'gentled', fairly easily. While it is www.rodentreader.com. the natural environment, part of the generally assumed that early han- food chain, and humans need to dling is key, I have cared for a And, join us on Facebook at end their obsession with total erad- blind wild rat who was nearly 2 www.facebook.com/rodentreader. ication of anything they view as a mos. old when he was rescued 'pest'. All animals carry disease, from certain death, and he was including humans, and when you easily handled and easily tamed look at the CDC website for rat and from the beginning, perhaps be- mouse borne illness among the cause of his disability. I often hear human population you see that the from members of the pet rat com- fear of contracting anything from munity that our domestic pets are these animals is grossly exagger- as 'far removed from wild rats as ated. Toddlers are worse vectors dogs are from wolves'. My own in some cases. Also, in NYC, more personal experience is that they people are bit by other humans are not as different as people than are bit by wild rats. If people would like to think. My theory is want to see the population of these that people WANT to believe that wild 'pest' animals decline then they are so different because how they need to take responsibility for would we feel about the brutal the environment they create that ways in which we kill them if we encourages these animals to settle acknowledge they can be as gen- in and reproduce -- i.e., better gar- tle and affectionate as our domes- bage containment and cleanliness. tics? Rats are one of those wild If anyone is interested in what animals that seems to have an af- would possess someone to finity for humans, and the ones I 'rescue' any of these animals, I have known have not seemed to have a good example: a few years be the least bit stressed by a life of ago, when reconstruction began at captivity. Companions, safety, Ground Zero, a group of workers good food, and TLC seem to be dug up a nest of wild baby rats. what they desire most in life.” As While most of the men were plan- do we all. ning to [kill them] with a shovel, a To conclude, I must add that I construction worker stepped for- shared with Lisa the same infor- ward and said that enough death mation regarding my intent for this had occurred there, and he was article that I previously noted hav- not going to kill anything. He took ing provided to Drusilla. In re- the babies to his sister who runs a sponse, Lisa said, “I think we feel cat rescue on Staten Island, and the same way regarding wild rats: she found me through word of while I would not encourage peo- mouth. I hand raised the four ple to obtain them for pet purpos- brother rats from the time they es, I would love to give people were about 10 days old; they lived more accurate information so that to be nearly 3. They were sweet, at least a few will maybe re-think gentle, affectionate rats who loved their views. I realize most people me dearly. Other rats I have are resistant to change, and will raised, all found by compassionate remain hostile, but maybe some people who could not bear to see a people will reconsider what they suffering animal, have grown up to have long held to be true.” be well-adjusted, friendly, gentle, Let‟s hope so. Moreover, and pretty much indistinguishable here‟s hoping this article might from their domestic companions. prove a chisel that begins breaking Many people have met them, nev- down that wall of resistance -- and er guessing they were not domesti- that rats of all kinds will soon bene- cated. Wild rats, (and mice), can fit from the much clearer and more happily and easily live with domes- accurate view it now obstructs. The Rodent Reader Quarterly 7