CDC warns of aggressive cannibal rats
May 26, 2020 11:16 AM Subscribe
Officials say rats have resorted to open warfare and eating their young as closures reduce edible waste. “Many of these rats in our cities depend on their nightly food, which is the restaurants and hotels and bars and doughnut shops and everything that we consume on the go,” rodentologist Bobby Corrigan told The Washington Post.
Love is the virus. Love is infectious. Love is the CURE. Oh wait, maybe it's rats.
posted by Fizz at 11:26 AM on May 26, 2020 [16 favorites]
posted by Fizz at 11:26 AM on May 26, 2020 [16 favorites]
Previously: Monkey gangs! Monkey gang warfare!
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 11:33 AM on May 26, 2020
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 11:33 AM on May 26, 2020
Do you want Redwall, because this is how you get Redwall!?!
posted by Fizz at 11:36 AM on May 26, 2020 [23 favorites]
posted by Fizz at 11:36 AM on May 26, 2020 [23 favorites]
I admit I feel bad for the rats. I wonder if there will just be fewer rats now.
posted by bleep at 11:43 AM on May 26, 2020 [9 favorites]
posted by bleep at 11:43 AM on May 26, 2020 [9 favorites]
"Rats eating their young" is a plank in this year's RNC platform, I understand.
posted by SPrintF at 11:44 AM on May 26, 2020 [69 favorites]
posted by SPrintF at 11:44 AM on May 26, 2020 [69 favorites]
Surviving rats will be more vicious.
See also: Rats will devour your car (13 Feb 2020; Karin Brulliard; Washington Post via Seattle Times)
See also: Rats will devour your car (13 Feb 2020; Karin Brulliard; Washington Post via Seattle Times)
Rats, better known for inhabiting sewers and dumpsters, also love to settle in the innards of vehicles in cooler months. The warmth and shelter attract them, but it’s the wires and hoses that entertain them: Rats’ teeth grow constantly, and they gnaw on things to keep their teeth trim. Inside an engine bay, they can blow fuses, start fires and even total cars.posted by ZeusHumms at 11:46 AM on May 26, 2020 [13 favorites]
No one tracks rat damage to cars, but there are signs it is a growing problem amid a nationwide rat population boom that experts say may be fueled by a warming climate. In the fall, rats set a sedan ablaze in Manhattan. They’ve mutilated the cars of college students in Florida. In recent years, a half-dozen class-action lawsuits have been filed against auto manufacturers on claims that today’s eco-friendlier wiring is irresistible to rodents. AAA warns that modern cars offer a “smorgasbord of treats” for rats.
I wonder if there will just be fewer rats now.
Rat populations are pretty much always at 100% capacity. Kill 80% of the rats, they will quickly breed up 10 100% carrying capacity. So the rats will rebound as soon as restaurants, bars, and hotels start putting out garbage again. Interestingly, Milwaukee was one of the few NA cities that had some control on its rat population by draconian fines for violating garbage containment in the downtown area.No idea if that is still the case or not.
posted by GenjiandProust at 11:52 AM on May 26, 2020 [13 favorites]
Rat populations are pretty much always at 100% capacity. Kill 80% of the rats, they will quickly breed up 10 100% carrying capacity. So the rats will rebound as soon as restaurants, bars, and hotels start putting out garbage again. Interestingly, Milwaukee was one of the few NA cities that had some control on its rat population by draconian fines for violating garbage containment in the downtown area.No idea if that is still the case or not.
posted by GenjiandProust at 11:52 AM on May 26, 2020 [13 favorites]
Too soon. We still haven’t fully processed murder hornets.
posted by hwestiii at 12:19 PM on May 26, 2020 [18 favorites]
posted by hwestiii at 12:19 PM on May 26, 2020 [18 favorites]
It isn’t even June yet.
posted by Young Kullervo at 12:23 PM on May 26, 2020 [9 favorites]
posted by Young Kullervo at 12:23 PM on May 26, 2020 [9 favorites]
We can count on Alberta to help us in the next great Rat War.
posted by deadaluspark at 12:31 PM on May 26, 2020 [8 favorites]
posted by deadaluspark at 12:31 PM on May 26, 2020 [8 favorites]
In fairness, "eat my young" isn't actually very far down the checklist of things rats try doing under stress.
posted by biogeo at 12:40 PM on May 26, 2020 [30 favorites]
posted by biogeo at 12:40 PM on May 26, 2020 [30 favorites]
The overall rat-to-human ratio is notoriously hard to gauge.
I'm convinced there is deep wisdom here that flutters just beyond my grasp
posted by Western Infidels at 12:40 PM on May 26, 2020 [15 favorites]
I'm convinced there is deep wisdom here that flutters just beyond my grasp
posted by Western Infidels at 12:40 PM on May 26, 2020 [15 favorites]
It is the Year of the Rat, what did you expect?
posted by elkevelvet at 12:41 PM on May 26, 2020 [10 favorites]
posted by elkevelvet at 12:41 PM on May 26, 2020 [10 favorites]
@hwestiii there's nothing 'too soon' for 2020 anymore.
posted by zsh2v1 at 12:44 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by zsh2v1 at 12:44 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
Rat populations are pretty much always at 100% capacity. Kill 80% of the rats, they will quickly breed up 10 100% carrying capacity.
Didn't a huge percent of the population die in Hurricane Sandy in NYC and then bounce back within a year?
posted by octothorpe at 1:12 PM on May 26, 2020 [4 favorites]
Didn't a huge percent of the population die in Hurricane Sandy in NYC and then bounce back within a year?
posted by octothorpe at 1:12 PM on May 26, 2020 [4 favorites]
So which one survived the fight to the death, Pizza Rat or Subway Bagel Rat?
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:23 PM on May 26, 2020 [7 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:23 PM on May 26, 2020 [7 favorites]
My three pet rats are all boys, from two mothers that someone bought and which turned out to be pregnant. Each of those female rats produced more than a dozen babies ('kittens'). My rats were sexually mature at 6 weeks of age, when they were not much bigger than mice.
Given the right conditions, they'd overrun the earth in a couple of years (conditions that include seafaring skills).
posted by pipeski at 1:24 PM on May 26, 2020 [10 favorites]
Given the right conditions, they'd overrun the earth in a couple of years (conditions that include seafaring skills).
posted by pipeski at 1:24 PM on May 26, 2020 [10 favorites]
(conditions that include seafaring skills).
Yarr, tis a rats life, too be sure.
posted by valkane at 1:29 PM on May 26, 2020 [14 favorites]
Yarr, tis a rats life, too be sure.
posted by valkane at 1:29 PM on May 26, 2020 [14 favorites]
We still haven’t fully processed murder hornets.
Coming soon to Syfy: Cannibal Rats vs. Murder Hornets.
posted by tobascodagama at 1:30 PM on May 26, 2020 [7 favorites]
Coming soon to Syfy: Cannibal Rats vs. Murder Hornets.
posted by tobascodagama at 1:30 PM on May 26, 2020 [7 favorites]
only granny rags can save us now
posted by poffin boffin at 1:34 PM on May 26, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 1:34 PM on May 26, 2020 [3 favorites]
Living in a seaside town I was wondering what the impact will be on the local seagull population. In the summer they nest all over the rooftops, scavenging lots of food from tourists and people out at night, then things get thin in the winter and they get more aggressive, going as far as snatching food out of hands. So I guess that might happen early or it may be there is some impact on infant survival I guess?
posted by biffa at 1:37 PM on May 26, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by biffa at 1:37 PM on May 26, 2020 [4 favorites]
I am in the suburbs not too far outside a semi-dense downtown area, and within about two weeks of the first closings I had a rat appear at my backyard birdfeeder. Took the feeders down for a week and that seemed to solve it, but over the weekend another one appeared. And it is fearless - it won't leave unless you get right up on it; the first time I was actually afraid it was going to lunge at me.
posted by Zargon X at 1:37 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Zargon X at 1:37 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
In fairness, "eat my young" isn't actually very far down the checklist of things rats try doing under stress.
posted by biogeo
You know, most people don't have this problem. I wonder if it's a matter of your children being particularly tasty or just a matter of access?
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 1:42 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by biogeo
You know, most people don't have this problem. I wonder if it's a matter of your children being particularly tasty or just a matter of access?
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 1:42 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
Rats and mice are among relatively few mammals to adopt the "make dozens or hundreds of kids, most of which will die before adulthood" strategy, rather than the "only have a few kids but actually put significant effort into keeping each of them alive" strategy. Just a small step from "eh, maybe a cat will eat them but who cares" to "eh, maybe I'll eat them, who cares."
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:57 PM on May 26, 2020 [24 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:57 PM on May 26, 2020 [24 favorites]
Maybe the rats can assist with the Millions Of Cicadas Expected To Emerge This Year -- oh, no. Did Cicada Explosion Lead to Boom in Rat Population? (July 29, 2004) Officials in Alexandria and Arlington said the unusual insects -- which popped up in the Washington area in May and June after 17 years underground -- provided a feast for the area's rodent population, which they say is considerably larger this year and the source of more residential complaints.
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:58 PM on May 26, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:58 PM on May 26, 2020 [5 favorites]
most people don't have this problem
The Holomodor demonstrates that is not as much of a guarantee as you would think.
posted by corb at 2:11 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
The Holomodor demonstrates that is not as much of a guarantee as you would think.
posted by corb at 2:11 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
A few years ago we were having a very bad rat problem in the house, and put snap traps everywhere. After encountering a number of gruesome scenes, I can fully attest that cannibal rats are a thing.
posted by queensissy at 2:22 PM on May 26, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by queensissy at 2:22 PM on May 26, 2020 [4 favorites]
My ex had hamsters, one of whom turned out to be female and pregnant.
Day of hamster births: Tiny cute hamsters, aw!
Day roughly sixteen: Only a few tiny gruesome hamster parts and a fat looking "momma", WTF
There was plenty of food and space, though obviously not in the eye of hammibal. Cured me of rodent pets, for sure.
posted by maxwelton at 2:53 PM on May 26, 2020 [20 favorites]
Day of hamster births: Tiny cute hamsters, aw!
Day roughly sixteen: Only a few tiny gruesome hamster parts and a fat looking "momma", WTF
There was plenty of food and space, though obviously not in the eye of hammibal. Cured me of rodent pets, for sure.
posted by maxwelton at 2:53 PM on May 26, 2020 [20 favorites]
no mention of Skaven yet, I'm sure everything is fine!
posted by LegallyBread at 3:24 PM on May 26, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by LegallyBread at 3:24 PM on May 26, 2020 [3 favorites]
We still haven’t fully processed murder hornets.
Some of us still haven't fully processed Cats: The Movie.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 3:45 PM on May 26, 2020 [26 favorites]
Some of us still haven't fully processed Cats: The Movie.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 3:45 PM on May 26, 2020 [26 favorites]
Per Matt Oswalt's previous post, I guess cannibal rats fill it in for June?
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:23 PM on May 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:23 PM on May 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
In other news, I am banned by our PTA president from referring to Chuck E* Cheese as "Pizza Rat"
*The E stands for Entertainment.
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 5:24 PM on May 26, 2020 [5 favorites]
*The E stands for Entertainment.
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 5:24 PM on May 26, 2020 [5 favorites]
Rats, better known for inhabiting sewers and dumpsters, also love to settle in the innards of vehicles in cooler months. The warmth and shelter attract them, but it’s the wires and hoses that entertain them: Rats’ teeth grow constantly, and they gnaw on things to keep their teeth trim. Inside an engine bay, they can blow fuses, start fires and even total cars.
My cousin is going through this. She's a traveling nurse and bought a fifth-wheel (a name I still don't understand) in order to go nomad from location to location. Four or five months ago she discovered a rat was living in it...somewhere...over the Montana winter. It has indeed eaten all the wiring, she hasn't been able to get rid of it and, consequently, has not been able to hit the road.
posted by rhizome at 5:25 PM on May 26, 2020 [4 favorites]
My cousin is going through this. She's a traveling nurse and bought a fifth-wheel (a name I still don't understand) in order to go nomad from location to location. Four or five months ago she discovered a rat was living in it...somewhere...over the Montana winter. It has indeed eaten all the wiring, she hasn't been able to get rid of it and, consequently, has not been able to hit the road.
posted by rhizome at 5:25 PM on May 26, 2020 [4 favorites]
A few years ago we were having a very bad rat problem in the house, and put snap traps everywhere. After encountering a number of gruesome scenes, I can fully attest that cannibal rats are a thing.
That might have been hunger, or alternatively what rat owners euphemistically term “the clean-up” - a wild rat’s instinct to eat any dead bodies near the nest for fear of the remains attracting predators. Even well-kept, non-stressed, well-fed domestic rats will often bury - and sometimes consume - the body of a cagemate who died naturally, acting on the same instinct.
(We’ve only ever had one of ours pass away in the cage rather than being put to sleep at the vet’s, but the rest just left him alone, much to our relief.)
posted by Morfil Ffyrnig at 5:44 PM on May 26, 2020 [6 favorites]
That might have been hunger, or alternatively what rat owners euphemistically term “the clean-up” - a wild rat’s instinct to eat any dead bodies near the nest for fear of the remains attracting predators. Even well-kept, non-stressed, well-fed domestic rats will often bury - and sometimes consume - the body of a cagemate who died naturally, acting on the same instinct.
(We’ve only ever had one of ours pass away in the cage rather than being put to sleep at the vet’s, but the rest just left him alone, much to our relief.)
posted by Morfil Ffyrnig at 5:44 PM on May 26, 2020 [6 favorites]
Chuck E* Cheese
*The E stands for Entertainment.
The E stands for "emesis".
posted by The Tensor at 5:52 PM on May 26, 2020 [8 favorites]
*The E stands for Entertainment.
The E stands for "emesis".
posted by The Tensor at 5:52 PM on May 26, 2020 [8 favorites]
i can't be the only one who scanned the fpp headline as "CDC warns of aggressive cannabis treats" and began to grow intrigued before application of focus brought the true text. still: aggressive cannibal cannabis rat treats, superposition of the two views, sounds pretty interesting too. anyway, in honor of the coincidence of our desperate rats' emergence with some immanent space event involving kings of rat race, here's gil scott heron.
posted by 20 year lurk at 6:12 PM on May 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by 20 year lurk at 6:12 PM on May 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
fifth-wheel (a name I still don't understand)
The fifth wheel is the trailer attachy-guy, which is called a fifth wheel because it's descended from earlier trailer-attachment-dinguses that were a literal fifth wheel mounted horizontally.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 7:02 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
The fifth wheel is the trailer attachy-guy, which is called a fifth wheel because it's descended from earlier trailer-attachment-dinguses that were a literal fifth wheel mounted horizontally.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 7:02 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
Day of hamster births: Tiny cute hamsters, aw!
Day roughly sixteen: Only a few tiny gruesome hamster parts and a fat looking "momma", WTF
There was plenty of food and space, though obviously not in the eye of hammibal. Cured me of rodent pets, for sure.
And that's why we've stuck with rabbits as our non-feline/canine pets.
It is the Year of the Rat, what did you expect?
You know you've been listening to too much Wipers (granted a contraction in terms) when you originally misread the above as this.
posted by gtrwolf at 7:04 PM on May 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
Day roughly sixteen: Only a few tiny gruesome hamster parts and a fat looking "momma", WTF
There was plenty of food and space, though obviously not in the eye of hammibal. Cured me of rodent pets, for sure.
And that's why we've stuck with rabbits as our non-feline/canine pets.
It is the Year of the Rat, what did you expect?
You know you've been listening to too much Wipers (granted a contraction in terms) when you originally misread the above as this.
posted by gtrwolf at 7:04 PM on May 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
Years ago I read Alan Weisman’s book The World Without Us (if you haven’t read it, it’s an examination of what would happen to the planet if you suddenly subtracted all the humans). I was struck by his point that the two species we are accustomed to thinking of as ultimate survivors, cockroaches and rats, depend very heavily on us. Cockroaches outside of the tropics would die out in a single winter absent artificial heating; rats, as we have seen, like our leftovers and in the presence of birds of prey (which currently are not often seen in cities), rats suddenly get to play an exciting new role in the food chain.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:10 PM on May 26, 2020 [12 favorites]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:10 PM on May 26, 2020 [12 favorites]
When this year is finally over, it’s going to fall to Keith Richards and Betty White to repopulate the blasted Earth.
posted by Naberius at 7:59 PM on May 26, 2020 [8 favorites]
posted by Naberius at 7:59 PM on May 26, 2020 [8 favorites]
There was a petting zoo called Storybook Gardens in London Ontario that we were taken to as kids in the 60s. They had a big, wonky clock in the area central to the front entrance. It was the clock from hickory-dickory-dock and it had little windows with stairways for the mice to run up and down. There'd been a population explosion and the stairways were filled with babies. There was eating going on; like an ant farm of mice.
This news though...what the hell am I supposed to do with this information?
posted by bonobothegreat at 8:37 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
This news though...what the hell am I supposed to do with this information?
posted by bonobothegreat at 8:37 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
The silicon chip inside their heads gets switched to overload...
posted by bendy at 8:41 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by bendy at 8:41 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
When this year is finally over, it’s going to fall to Keith Richards and Betty White to repopulate the blasted Earth.
Ok, this might be the pandemic talking, but I would totally watch that porno.
posted by sexyrobot at 10:57 PM on May 26, 2020 [9 favorites]
Ok, this might be the pandemic talking, but I would totally watch that porno.
posted by sexyrobot at 10:57 PM on May 26, 2020 [9 favorites]
And that's why we've stuck with rabbits as our non-feline/canine pets.
Since they resorb their young at a tactfully early stage.
posted by clew at 11:45 PM on May 26, 2020 [4 favorites]
Since they resorb their young at a tactfully early stage.
posted by clew at 11:45 PM on May 26, 2020 [4 favorites]
And that's why we've stuck with rabbits as our non-feline/canine pets.
Since they resorb their young at a tactfully early stage.
Rabbits are exceptionally soft and cute, but they are not immune to less-tactful cannibalism as well. I had remembered reading about this long ago, and quickly googling I see that there are plenty of very graphic accounts of people being horrified at what they see happening in their rabbit households. (And, interestingly, articles about the importance of meat-eating, both cannibalistic and not, in wild rabbit populations, especially during the winter.)
posted by Dip Flash at 6:17 AM on May 27, 2020 [2 favorites]
Since they resorb their young at a tactfully early stage.
Rabbits are exceptionally soft and cute, but they are not immune to less-tactful cannibalism as well. I had remembered reading about this long ago, and quickly googling I see that there are plenty of very graphic accounts of people being horrified at what they see happening in their rabbit households. (And, interestingly, articles about the importance of meat-eating, both cannibalistic and not, in wild rabbit populations, especially during the winter.)
posted by Dip Flash at 6:17 AM on May 27, 2020 [2 favorites]
> ZeusHumms: See also: Rats will devour your car (13 Feb 2020; Karin Brulliard; Washington Post via Seattle Times) In some cars, wiring is made of tasty soy-based plastic. My car was totaled by an insurance company due to damage from mice and repaired. The shop said it's not uncommon.
posted by theora55 at 6:54 AM on May 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 6:54 AM on May 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
I WARNED YOU OF THIS
NOW I RELEASE MY MINIONS
ALL UR FLESH IS BELONG TO US
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 7:40 AM on May 27, 2020 [3 favorites]
NOW I RELEASE MY MINIONS
ALL UR FLESH IS BELONG TO US
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 7:40 AM on May 27, 2020 [3 favorites]
The fifth wheel is the trailer attachy-guy, which is called a fifth wheel because it's descended from earlier trailer-attachment-dinguses that were a literal fifth wheel mounted horizontally.I'm ashamed to admit how long it takes me to recognize sarcasm lately. The post-parody world is confusing.
posted by eotvos at 7:53 AM on May 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
My central London neighbourhood has - like a lot of others - set up Covid-19 Mutual Support Whatsapp Group, which has been a mixed blessing at best since I joined it. Mostly it's used for arranging delivery of prescriptions or a loaf of bread for people who are isolating.
However I knew it was the right moment to leave the group when one of my neighbours posted a concerned question wanting to know - in all seriousness - had anybody thought about the urban foxes? Who was looking after them? Were they OK? Were they hungry, now that the restaurants are all closed? Should we set up a feeding rota?
I can only imagine how he's gonna feel when he learns about the plight of the rats...
posted by citands at 8:02 AM on May 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
However I knew it was the right moment to leave the group when one of my neighbours posted a concerned question wanting to know - in all seriousness - had anybody thought about the urban foxes? Who was looking after them? Were they OK? Were they hungry, now that the restaurants are all closed? Should we set up a feeding rota?
I can only imagine how he's gonna feel when he learns about the plight of the rats...
posted by citands at 8:02 AM on May 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
Babies taste the best!
So Mr. Swift has informed me.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:19 AM on May 27, 2020 [2 favorites]
So Mr. Swift has informed me.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:19 AM on May 27, 2020 [2 favorites]
I'm ashamed to admit how long it takes me to recognize sarcasm lately.
I wasn't being sarcastic at all, I was just too lazy to go look up the word (looks it up) coupling.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 8:25 AM on May 27, 2020 [5 favorites]
I wasn't being sarcastic at all, I was just too lazy to go look up the word (looks it up) coupling.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 8:25 AM on May 27, 2020 [5 favorites]
I wasn't being sarcastic at allSorry! I guessed this was a subtle joke connecting the imagined guy who owns a trailer to the extra wheel that a car or wagon doesn't actually need. I both misunderstood the word "guy" and the entire context of the comment. (Apologies also to those who own trailers.)
posted by eotvos at 8:51 AM on May 27, 2020
#NotAllDinguses own trailers.
posted by nickmark at 10:38 AM on May 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by nickmark at 10:38 AM on May 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a dingus in possession of a vehicle, must be in want of a trailer.
posted by tobascodagama at 11:37 AM on May 27, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by tobascodagama at 11:37 AM on May 27, 2020 [2 favorites]
Just so no one gets the idea that rodent infanticide and/or cannibalism is exclusively a rat (or hamster) thing... a lot of rodents do it. In fact squirrels, which I know some people here label as "cute", sometimes will resort to infanticide during times of plentiful food.
posted by Ashwagandha at 12:40 PM on May 27, 2020
posted by Ashwagandha at 12:40 PM on May 27, 2020
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Chris Ware's "Jimmy Corrigan" has meant that any "-y" name with "Corrigan" comes with a comic built in. That this one is a rodentologist studying rat cannibals gives it that extra "Julius Knipl" oomph.
posted by rhizome at 11:24 AM on May 26, 2020 [10 favorites]