Rats

Rats are one of the most hated animals in the world. But, like any other animal on earth, they are part of the ecosystem. So let’s explore why they matter.

Diet

The rat diet we’re looking at is that of a rural rat — a rat that lives in the countryside. Rural rats eat seeds, and consume bugs as their main protein source. They collect seeds from any plant they can find and store them in hidden caches, meaning “Food stashes”. They collect as many seeds as they can, since mice, other rats and birds are also searching for them. Lots of people mistake rat seed collecting as a “Getting ready for winter” thing, when actually they are also trying to get as much as possible so they have enough food for everyday life, not just for the cooler seasons.

Habitat

Habitats depend on the species of rat. Black rats live in warm, sheltered, elevated places. Brown rats prefer ground‑level areas like foundations, burrows, and soil banks, usually with multiple entrances. We will be focusing on brown rat habitats. Brown rat burrows have multiple sections: a main tunnel, a nest chamber, food storage areas, escape routes, and small ventilation holes.

Behaviour

Rats are crepuscular, which means they are usually active at daw and dusk. At dawn they will come out from the burrow and forage. They will drink from ponds or puddles and will manage the nest’s food supply. At dusk, they will do similar, but they tend to have a bigger meal and repair the nest’s entrances. During the day, they will rest, groom and do small things in the burrow. If they hear a commotion outside the nest, they will quickly stick their head out the hole and see what’s happening.

Our Observations

After looking closely at our local rats, we have discovered some interesting behaviour. The Microzoo garden is located next to a field. We are lucky to have a direct gate connecting the garden to the field, as we can walk around the edge and observe the bushes, since they are home to some amazing insects and birds that we can research. While observing the rats in our garden, we remembered that some holes are located just outside our gate. After looking closely, it seems like our rats do not use it and it is abandoned.

Some more rat behaviour includes some pond life. We have a pond in our garden, with fish, frogs, water snails and even a small mouse. Recently, the rats have been running along the fence to get to the pond. We believe that this is for taking a short swim, or grabbing the seeds from plants located nearby.