September 17, 2002
Rats & Black Death
From the New York Times, so free registration required, an article Up, Down, In and Out in Beverly Hills: Rats about rodents in Beverly Hills. The species is actually Rattus rattus, the rat believed responsible for the spread of the plague, and in the generally gently humorous article is the following wonderfull quote about it:
It is less aggressive and well suited to the California lifestyle, preferring a vegetarian diet.
Speaking of the plague, when it first arrived in England it killed 30-45% of the population between 1348 and 1350. It completely wiped out some villages. Yet Medieval society survived, wages for surviving peasants went up slightly and in fact life for the "lower orders" probably improved. With demand for labor outstripping supply people were able to negotiate more freedom of movement and status.
Would modern society survive that sort of death rate? How many people does it take to keep America functioning? Certainly record company executives, barristas, lots of programmers, marketing specialists, and lots of other jobs could be done without. How do you run an oil refinery though? Where do you get the oil from? How many people to run a hydro electric station? A chip fabrication plant? Looked at from the other point of view, what percentage of the population would have to die for society to collapse, if the death rate was evenly spread? Of course it probably wouldn't be, we'd end up with a surplus of Members of Congress, CEOs, and the rich, while all of the farmers died.
Posted by Alex at September 17, 2002 08:22 PM
My favorite rat story occured on my last trip to Washington. I spent an evening walking near my hotel, which was about 3 blocks from the White House. In circling the White House, I saw 4 rats of varying sizes. In my life to that point, I believe I had ever seen only 3 other "wild" rats. I'm not sure if the population had changed since "The Shrub" had entered the White House.
Regarding your list of those that "could be done without" following a high death rate event. Let us not forget the Golgafrincham, wiped out for the lack of a good army of telephone sanitizers. We all have a purpose. Even record execs.
ok, we are talking about rats here, smelly, disobedient rodents who run around spreading disease and making peoples houses dirty and un-hygenic i think that if people were really that angry with rats or hate them that much, they should evacuate everyone on the country for a few days, and cull the bastards, i know it sounds extreme but seriously, you cant tell me that you dont hate rats, besides, the world would be such a better place without them. and im pretty sure that people would DEFINATELY notice the change.
thank you.
Er actually Hayley I can honestly say I dont hate rats, I have my own as pets, oh and Ive had wild ones in my garden too, that I didnt even think of removing...they left on their own accord (when it was warm enough to go back to where they origanlly came from, like the sewers) they never caused any problems for me, didnt get any diseases or bite anyone... and people who are stupid enough to try and hold a wild rat deserves the disease they get from a bite... seriously, whod pick up a wild one. I think the world would be a better place if stupid twats like you didnt exsist... you know, humans being the reason they are soo many rats anyways!!
I have to agree with Sarah there Hayley. I can DEFINATELY say I DON'T HATE RATS. I have 4 pet Rats of my own that I wouldn't think the World would be a better place without. Yes, strange, but people can love Rats, and think they are awesome pets...tis true.
1/ The reason that Wild Rats smell and carry diseases is that they have no choice but to live off OUR rubbish, its called survival, we all do it. My Boys smell like taco and corn chips, and are cleaner than my Cat.
2/ If there is a Wild Rat in a House, its because the house is dirty and unhygenic to begin with. A Wild Rat won't go NEAR a human habitation unless there is a HUGE food payoff involved. There lives are too short to put it at extra risk for nothing, they only live 18mths.
3/ Wild Rats have there place in the Ecosystem, without them yes, things would change, but very likely not for the best.
I understand that people do have Phobias towards Rats, and though, the reason why is beyond me, I accept it. I have a fear of heights, I can commiserate. But I don't think everything high should be destroyed because of it.
Wild Rats are just creatures, living their lives, and if they troublesome or asthetically pleasing to us, is that any reason for a wholesale genecide on their population?
Some people don't like Cats, and Feral Cats are a HUGE problem, but would someone get away with saying that we should "cull the bastards", no, Cat People would be up in arms...but when its Rats...:/ This is the type of thinking that got the Wolf population to where it is. That its ok to kill something because its bothersome to us.
Please, don't take this comment as nasty or snarky, I don't mean it that way. I am simply trying to give you imformation.
Domestic rats make excellent pets. The phobias toward their wild cousins make folks think we rat lovers are a bit crazy. I have eight ratties with a litter on the way, and I love each and every one of my little critters just the same.
Yes, I loved the movie Willard (2003) wanting to watch it mostly to see the trained rats do their part, but loving the Crispin Glover character of Willard.
Too many people see tame rats as a cheap source of snake food, or, a disposable creature that can be bought and released or killed just because it is a rat.
It is a shame that the gentle, loving nature of the tame rat is overshadowed by our common fears.
Really, blanket statments like "and people who are stupid enough to try and hold a wild rat deserves the disease they get from a bite... seriously, whod pick up a wild one." show the lack of education/compassion. Stupid people like my 4 year old daughter who was trying to save the rat from the cat certainly don't deserve to get the plague. Hmf
I second everything sarah and jessica had to say. Is it safe to catch and transport wild rats?
Can anyony help?
ks