Are Rats Intelligent?
Are Rats Intelligent?
Why on earth would anyone consider a rat an intelligent species?
They are vermin!
Yet we are literally breading these rodents in our landfills. We are providing them with a safe, warm place with tons of food to satisfy their hunger, but they are not satisfied. They want excitement in their lives just like you and i, and so they forage.
These rodents are a danger to the human race and we spend thousands of dollars to keep them from the food establishments we own and expect our customers to frequent.
Yet on the television, (at least in British Columbia), last night – April 24th 2010. There was a program that proved, (to me anyway), that rats are indeed intelligent.
Not only are they intelligent, they actually talk to each other.
No, not with spoken words like you and I do, of course not. And, neither you or I can hear what they say. At least not beyond the usual squeak or squeal. But believe me, judging by what i saw in the trials they “DO” use intelligence to converse with each other.
I was amazed at the results.
One example was with two rats in a maze. Beyond the maze were four plates of different types of food.
- On one plate was dog food.
- On one plate was peanut butter
- On one plate was something else
- On one plate was a chocolate chip cookie.
One rat eventually found its way out of the maze and proceeded to check out each plate in turn starting with the plate furthest away from the maze. Sniffing cautiously at each plate, before deciding that it would taste the cookie with a nibble.
The rat immediately went back to the maze and found the other rat, still in the maze. Which within seconds was making a direct beeline to the chocolate chip cookie and proceeded to devour as much as possible.
How did this second rat know exactly where to go. It was still in the maze when the first rat encountered the plates.
In the second experiment there were three rats. Two in one cage with a screen between them and two tubes of pipe. The third rat in another location on a table also with a tube of pipe. The test was with a spring loaded rat trap and a piece of cheese in the trap.
The rat very cautiously walked around the trap, being careful to avoid it. Why?
Rats and mice for years have been thought to devour cheese as the preferred food choice. It didn’t take the bait.
The investigator tapped the table with a piece of card and the rat on the table immediately ran to the tube of pipe for safety.
Guess what. So did the two rats behind the screen in another location. They too; ran to the tube of pipe for safety.
They eat anything and tell each other if it is good or bad food. It was obvious to me that they do talk to each other in some way, telling other rats where things are and whether or not it is safe to either eat or travel.
So if you are having problems with rodents, rats and mice. You need experts to vary their methods of attack to rid your place of business of these frightening and dangerous critters.
Posted in Start a Bakery