Do you see (wild) rats at your local Zoo? I'm interested because for the first time ever I saw rats(several) running around at Colchester Zoo last year and I know South Lakes has them too. But in all my zoo visiting over the years I don't remember seeing them so readily visible like that previously. Zoos must be very attractive places for rats but can they be controlled effectively -or have they become an increasing presence at other zoos too? All sightings appreciated for my survey.
Pertinax you would be better off asking which zoos do not have rats?! Large amounts of food, water and a sheltered environments. Perfect breeding ground for rodents.
The reason I asked was because I never noticed them in a zoo until last year and in other zoos I still don't see them. I know rats have become much more common generally in recent years. They must be a nuisance in zoos too if they can't be controlled. Possibly as vectors of disease, soiling animal feed, or predating small birds etc. Even as a health hazard?
I love seeing Rats in zoo's. I've always seen them around the Predatory Birds and Mammals sections and they never last long. Last year at Port Lympne I saw one of their Wolves kill a Rat. It was good. I'm a rodent lover so a good population of rodents to me is interesting There is a severe misconception that Rats spread disease, the disease already has to be present for the rats to pick it up. If zoo's were more careful how they stored their food, cleaning shelters and food areas, Rats wouldn't be such an issue. Rat's don't poo in food, they leave no trace on any food except a hair maybe, but they don't "mess" on food, they don't like their own dirt etc. Most small birds in a collection aren't bothered by Rats, the eggs are at risk but not normall the adult birds.
Paignton: I've seen them in the walk-through aviary coming under the fence, helping themselves to food and going back under the fence to the lake area.
Worst was Chester in 2009, we were there at 17:30 and they were running everywhere. With most people having left the rats outnumber the visitors.
I remember at Whipsnade about three years ago seeing a rat in the tiger enclosure, unfortunately for the rat I wasn't the only one who had observed this intruder, in a split second the tiger leaped upon the rodent,swallowed down in one. I recall the rat problem being dealt with on the B.B.C. documentary series from London Zoo about ten years ago.
I was thinking about this last night - I've done some work with domestic animals at my local zoo and (surprisingly?) never saw a rat in there or the rest of the zoo for that matter. Lots of bunnies & foxes (plus adders), no rats.
I have seen Rats at Chester. Along with other small Rodents, I had a great time watching (What I believed to be Woodmice) them in the Rare Parrot Breeding Centre! (On-show Area)
I found watching them at Colchester very interesting too- perhaps because in a zoo they're very used to people, they seem to go about their business quite boldly. I should have known better than to imply they soil foodstuffs as I know they are generally very clean creatures. It seems they are pretty widespread from the answers so far.
Haven't seen any at Paignton. Although those we saw at Chester were very happy to be running around with people about. We saw them near the Kiosk opposite the Elephant enclosure. Running in and around the benches. I don't have a problem with them at zoos. Given the way most animals are kept, they probably carry less infections/diseases than most rats in this country. I have to be honest, I was a little suprised to see them. Although it's obviously the ideal place for them.
Rats don't bother me at all, in fact I have two adorable pet fancy rats! I see them loads at Colchester and have spoken to a few members of staff, who explained that they are trying to keep them under control as much as possible. But as you are never more than about 40m away from a wild rat, anywhere, at any given time, there's not a lot anyone can do about it. Despite what many people think, they are very clean animals. Colchester also have quite a healthy population of wild mice. Rajang loves this, and sends his keepers a regular supply of "presents" which he posts through the bars in his bedrooms! I've seen him "collect" some of these presents while I have been watching him.
How is this a misconception, the fact is bacteria and viruses occur everywhere but often require a vector to transfer to other hosts (mosquitos and avian malaria spring to mind, humans do a pretty good job too) so regardless of whether you like them or not rats DO spread disease as do their smaller relatives, ask anyone working with marmosets/tamarin/toucans and they will tell you that the presence of rodents in these areas is not something to ignore, control is a must and there is usually several bait points around such areas but outbreaks do occur, usually zoos will act pretty quickly to bring the situation under control.
Rats spread disease that's already in an area, but like you said Mosquito's do to and fleas are the number one issue for Zoo animals as I've been told. So no, Rat's don't bring new disease in and actually most don't spread it. Every now and again you'll get one rat that wanders into an enclosure with the fleas which spread illnesses. I'm not saying just let them run rabid all over the place, but it's not as bad as they're always made out. The control should be live capture too, poison's etc don't just kill the rat they can kill anything else that touches them (Feral cats, animals that come across the dead rats, I've heard of children who pick them up etc etc). So yeah, live catch and take the Rat a few miles away and they wont come back (especially in forest areas).
The point I was trying to make was that you said they didnt spread disease, but they do, I didnt say they were the primary cause but they DO spread disease through various means as do mosquitos, whether it be through the fleas that they carry or other means, without them the disease would not have a vector to carry it to a new host. Of course we havent even touched on the physical damage that they can do. You are surely not serious, you are suggesting that rats should be relocated. I would be interested to see the evidence you have of this, I am sure there will always be isolated incidents but to suggest that live capture and relocation is a solution, sorry I cant see the logic in that but maybe you can persuade me otherwise.
There are always rats in Inka's enclosure at Dudley (Asiatic black bear), she's probably too old to catch the buggers now
The only place i have seen them is in with the agouti at Dartmoor. I saw a mouse in with the Tapir at Bristol.
I saw a spider monkey capture a mouse at chapultepec zoo in mexico and carry it around all the time, other monkeys wanted to take it, but this monkey would not let them have it. I do not if the rodent survived. Someone else has mentioned chimps capturing rodents. I find this inter- species behaviour fascinating. How do our fellow primates see or understand these intruders ? I also have seen zoos keep cats to control rodents ( Bioparco rome, some mexican zoos, riozoo). But then how do you control the cats natural affinity for birds ?
