Ought we to love, cherish and respect rats?

Started "Stowaway" book  tonight got to page 28 and if the first few pages are anything to go by it's going to be an excellent read, the first dozen pages are funnier than most modern day comedians.  Before reading this book wasn't sure what to expect or if I would manage to get to the end, I will! When I finish it will come back.

Cheers

John

Book came today, had quick glimpse and a few illustrations inside. Full price is £18.99 but I got it cheaper from Amazon.

Should make a good bedtime read.

Have watched them under the feeders at Blacktoft Sands and the birds took little notice. A few years ago at Black Bank FS there was one rat with half it's tail missing and limped badly, it must have had a set to with something or was like me unlucky with it's health. 

Like Nick, I have watched rats at Potterick Carr - see pic -  (and at Whisby, too).

The county wildlife trusts seem to be fairly relaxed about rats, the RSPB less so because of their potentially devastating impact on seabird colonies.

I haven't read the new book, but I listened to an interview in which the author said that he, too, had kept pet rats (or rather his wife had). They were called Molly and Ermintrude, and the book is dedicated to them.

Cue: opportunity for Pete to reveal the names of the pets kept by his lad.

I was once on a London Tube train when a young woman pulled out of her shopping bag two pet white rats which she allowed to run over her shoulders and head.

The carriage had been almost full, but it emptied at the next station! 


 

Our son kept pet rats and they were absolutely adorable, having as many as 5 at one time, each one having its own personality . It's a book I may well buy. All the bird feeders were removed at Hubbards Hills in Louth because of a rat 'infestation'. As Nick says they live side by side with birds and people and most of the time you'd never know they were there. 

Regards Pete

I remember one day at Potterick Carr, and watching at a feeding station a variety of birds either on the feeders/table or around the base gathering the seeds. Also, four rather large rats, happily mingling with the birds on the floor and merrily munching away on the fallen nuts. No menace towards the birds, and not much alarm from the birds either apart from the occasional nudge to get out of the way.