School is out, it's the holiday season, and I'm here visiting family in Florida. I've left my beloved pets and trash rats behind, but there are still plenty of rodents to keep me amused.
Having dinner last night on the patio of a restaurant overlooking the beach, I was thrilled to see a cute little mouse scamper across the deck. He looked different than the mice I'm used to, bigger ears and a longer tail, almost like a kangaroo rat, though I know those aren't native to Florida. Or were they? Not knowing anything about Floridian rodents, I did some research.
The first thing I discovered was that the rattus rattus, or roof rat, is the predominant rat species in Florida, unlike rattus norvegicus, which is the main rat in Ohio. Rattus rattus is an arboreal species, meaning they live in trees, much like squirrels. I can't think of anything that would thrill me more than the sight of a rattus rattus scurrying nimbly across a tree branch.
Actually, the one thing that would thrill me more would be to spot an African Gambian Rat. For those who are familiar with the 2004 remake Willard, the rat that played Ben was an African Gambian Rat. Gambians can grow to the size of a raccoon and have a lifespan of 6-8 years. Unfortunantly, because of the monkey pox scare a few years back, they're illegal to buy in the United States. Which hasn't stopped me from wanting one. As it turns out, Gambian Rats have infiltrated the Florida Keys. A long way from the Gulf Coast where I currently am, but it's still fun to think out.
I never did find out what that little mouse was..
Control of Roof Rats in Fruit TreesRat Traps in the Mangroves(cute pictures!)
Large Gambian Rats Worry Florida OfficialsGambian Rat Pet Care
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posted by Sophielynette @ 1:38 PM