Pet rats make approachable small pets when you want a companion that is social, clever, and easy to bond with. Choose domesticated varieties bred for companionship, not wild-caught rats. Knowing the difference helps you pick a pet that fits your home and comfort level. The best pet rats are domesticated rats, especially fancy rats. Breeders…
European ships brought rats to the Americas. Black rats likely arrived with Columbus in 1492. Brown rats came later, probably during the colonial era and before the old 1776 date that many people used to repeat. Atlantic shipping, colonial ports, and human trade drove the spread of rats in North America. Archaeology, bones, and new…
New York City’s rat problem looks different in each borough. The answer to which borough has the most rats depends on how you measure it. Recent NYC data and media coverage often point to Brooklyn as the borough with the heaviest rat pressure. This is especially true when you look at complaint volume and inspection…
Rats become dangerous when they live near people. They spread disease, contaminate food and surfaces, and damage homes with constant gnawing. If you want to know which rats are dangerous, focus on those most tied to human buildings. The black rat and brown rat create the highest risk for your health and property. The species…
Rats have lived alongside people for a very long time. Pet rats are a much newer tradition than dogs or cats, and the modern idea of rats as pets began in the 19th century with selective breeding, rat catchers, and Victorian-era fancy rat culture. If you have ever wondered when rats became pets, the short…
Rats can damage wiring, contaminate food, and spread germs. The best way to get rid of rats is to act fast and use several strategies: remove what attracts them, trap the ones already inside, and seal the openings they use to get in. You usually get the best results by combining snap traps with exclusion…
New York City is home to rats that most people will never see up close. These rodents live right alongside you in sidewalks, basements, subways, parks, and trash areas. If you are asking what rats are in New York, the short answer is that the city’s population is dominated by brown rats. Black rats appear…
Rats have a much older history than most people expect. If you are asking when rats first appeared, rat-like rodents trace back millions of years, while the modern rats you know today emerged much later within the rodent family tree. True rats appeared after earlier rodent ancestors. The Rattus lineage arose in Asia long before…
Rats fear anything that signals danger, discomfort, or being trapped. Predators, strong smells, sudden noise, bright light, and open areas make them more likely to flee or hide. Combine several deterrents with sealing, cleaning, and blocking access for the best results. Rats quickly adapt to weak or temporary solutions. You may hear a lot of…
You can keep your rat healthy by knowing which foods are unsafe, which are risky, and which belong in tiny portions only. You should avoid toxic produce, certain seeds and pits, alcohol, caffeine, and many processed foods with harmful additives or too much sugar, salt, or fat. A balanced rat diet built around commercial rat…