http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26764929?ocid=socialflow_facebook
QuoteGiant rat: Swedes agog at 'Ratzilla' in Stockholm
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The appearance of a massive rat in a Stockholm family's kitchen has made headlines in Sweden, where it is being dubbed "Ratzilla".
Measuring 40cm (nearly 16in) plus tail, the creature terrified the family in Solna district.
Pest controllers finally killed the intruder using an oversized trap.
Even the family cat had refused to enter the kitchen while the giant rat was in residence, father Erik Korsas told BBC News.
It appears that it entered the kitchen via a ventilation pipe, having gnawed its way through cement and wood.
After devouring food leftovers under the sink, the creature feasted on a "Swedish smorgasbord" of waste in the bin, according to Mr Korsas.
The incident occurred three weeks ago and initially, after taking a few souvenir photos, the family thought no more about it.
But when they contacted Sweden's Home And Rent website to see if it was interested in the story, it rapidly scurried to the top of the country's news agenda after attracting the attention of reporters at newspapers including the English language The Local.
On Tuesday, the "mega rat" became the most shared item for popular Swedish daily Aftonbladet, according to a tweet by journalist Sven Nordenstam.
Social media rang with gasps of disbelief, disgust and amusement. "Can't even read the news because there's a story about a giant rat on it," wrote one person. "I'd be moving on out of there," wrote another.
Laughing incredulously, Mr Korsas told the BBC that one reporter had said he should have frozen the rat's carcass for posterity. "You do have big rats in London too, yes?" he asked.
Since the incident, the family and its cat - a Cornish Rex by the name of Enok - have not been bothered by rats of any size, Mr Korsas added.
Despite regular media speculation, there appears to be little evidence of rats getting bigger in developed countries.
However, scientists do believe they could eventually grow into the size of sheep, Dr Jan Zalasiewicz, of the University of Leicester in the UK, recently told the BBC.
That said, any significant change would be a long way off.
1D4 hpts
That's a big motherfucking rat.
I like rats. :ph34r:
God damn. It is tricky enough to catch mice that you could just trample or use a regular tiny trap. I bet something like this could take quite a few hits from a shovel, unless you manage a strong one with it's edge. :hmm:
I wonder if it has any offspring. Or how many. :ph34r:
Quote from: Queequeg on March 27, 2014, 10:16:23 AM
I like rats. :ph34r:
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:hmm:
QuoteIt appears that it entered the kitchen via a ventilation pipe, having gnawed its way through cement ...
Goddamn. :lol:
Probably just shoddy craftsmanship as you'd expect from Swedes.
More seriously, in the 60s and 70s in Germany, at least, it was popular to use less cement and more sand to push down building costs and skim off extra earnings. Might be the same thing happened in Rat-House.
Aren't rats famous for being able to gnaw through anything?
Quote from: Razgovory on March 27, 2014, 10:53:34 AM
Quote from: Queequeg on March 27, 2014, 10:16:23 AM
I like rats. :ph34r:
Yeah, but you like Russians.
And Chinese.
And Turks
And Persians
And unibrows
And <insert ethnic flavor of the day>
Quote from: jimmy olsen on March 27, 2014, 11:01:52 AM
Aren't rats famous for being able to gnaw through anything?
Yes. And bring disease. Just like Swedes.
Quote from: Norgy on March 27, 2014, 11:30:44 AM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on March 27, 2014, 11:01:52 AM
Aren't rats famous for being able to gnaw through anything?
Yes. And bring disease. Just like Swedes.
oh and yet I get disparaged when blaming Swedes.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on March 27, 2014, 11:01:52 AM
Aren't rats famous for being able to gnaw through anything?
Rodents have constantly growing teeth. That's why they gnaw at stuff. They are amazing animals.
Quote from: Queequeg on March 27, 2014, 11:51:08 AM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on March 27, 2014, 11:01:52 AM
Aren't rats famous for being able to gnaw through anything?
Rodents have constantly growing teeth. That's why they gnaw at stuff. They are amazing animals.
Amazingly disgusting. And ferrets for pets. :yuk:
Old crones have spots of constantly growing weird facial hair. Doesn't make them amazing.
Speaking of rodents, it is almost time for my annual spring campaign against the rabbit menace.
Quote from: Ed Anger on March 27, 2014, 11:55:27 AM
Speaking of rodents, it is almost time for my annual spring campaign against the rabbit menace.
:Joos ?
Sadly, no Gruppenfuhrer Drut to assist me this year. :(
Quote from: Capetan Mihali on March 27, 2014, 11:53:53 AM
Quote from: Queequeg on March 27, 2014, 11:51:08 AM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on March 27, 2014, 11:01:52 AM
Aren't rats famous for being able to gnaw through anything?
Rodents have constantly growing teeth. That's why they gnaw at stuff. They are amazing animals.
Amazingly disgusting. And ferrets for pets. :yuk:
TBH I wonder a lot of the time if the human hatred of rats is because we recognize so many of our most basic qualities (omnivorous, all-encompassing diet, complex social behavior, ability to thrive in any environment no matter the extremity or uncleanliness) in them. Besides being our neighbor, they are kind of spiritual kin.
Humans, pigs and rats rule.
Quote from: Queequeg on March 27, 2014, 12:07:24 PM
TBH I wonder a lot of the time if the human hatred of rats is because we recognize so many of our most basic qualities (omnivorous, all-encompassing diet, complex social behavior, ability to thrive in any environment no matter the extremity or uncleanliness) in them. Besides being our neighbor, they are kind of spiritual kin.
I wonder if it could also be the fact that they invade our houses, piss and shit all over the place, and cause significant property damage. :hmm:
Quote from: The Brain on March 27, 2014, 12:11:40 PM
Humans, pigs and rats rule.
Not in Alberta they don't. :showoff:
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Quote from: Queequeg on March 27, 2014, 12:07:24 PM
Quote from: Capetan Mihali on March 27, 2014, 11:53:53 AM
Quote from: Queequeg on March 27, 2014, 11:51:08 AM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on March 27, 2014, 11:01:52 AM
Aren't rats famous for being able to gnaw through anything?
Rodents have constantly growing teeth. That's why they gnaw at stuff. They are amazing animals.
Amazingly disgusting. And ferrets for pets. :yuk:
TBH I wonder a lot of the time if the human hatred of rats is because we recognize so many of our most basic qualities (omnivorous, all-encompassing diet, complex social behavior, ability to thrive in any environment no matter the extremity or uncleanliness) in them. Besides being our neighbor, they are kind of spiritual kin.
or, you know, it could be because they're the vector for several diseases, and in the past a mouse or rat infestation could have devastated a communities food store and caused mass starvation.
Quote from: Caliga on March 27, 2014, 12:13:22 PM
Quote from: Queequeg on March 27, 2014, 12:07:24 PM
TBH I wonder a lot of the time if the human hatred of rats is because we recognize so many of our most basic qualities (omnivorous, all-encompassing diet, complex social behavior, ability to thrive in any environment no matter the extremity or uncleanliness) in them. Besides being our neighbor, they are kind of spiritual kin.
I wonder if it could also be the fact that they invade our houses, piss and shit all over the place, and cause significant property damage. :hmm:
:hmm:
Hatred of rats is a pretty peculiarly European, or at least Abrahamic thing. In India there is Karni Mata temple, and it is a symbol of the zodiac in China.
Quote from: Caliga on March 27, 2014, 12:13:22 PM
Quote from: Queequeg on March 27, 2014, 12:07:24 PM
TBH I wonder a lot of the time if the human hatred of rats is because we recognize so many of our most basic qualities (omnivorous, all-encompassing diet, complex social behavior, ability to thrive in any environment no matter the extremity or uncleanliness) in them. Besides being our neighbor, they are kind of spiritual kin.
I wonder if it could also be the fact that they invade our houses, piss and shit all over the place, and cause significant property damage. :hmm:
thats also why we hate in laws :D
Quote from: Queequeg on March 27, 2014, 12:25:03 PM
Hatred of rats is a pretty peculiarly European, or at least Abrahamic thing. In India there is Karni Mata temple, and it is a symbol of the zodiac in China.
india "rat hunter" are a low caste for a reason. They dislike rats so much that those with contact with them are looked down upon.
Quote from: Caliga on March 27, 2014, 12:13:22 PM
Quote from: Queequeg on March 27, 2014, 12:07:24 PM
TBH I wonder a lot of the time if the human hatred of rats is because we recognize so many of our most basic qualities (omnivorous, all-encompassing diet, complex social behavior, ability to thrive in any environment no matter the extremity or uncleanliness) in them. Besides being our neighbor, they are kind of spiritual kin.
I wonder if it could also be the fact that they invade our houses, piss and shit all over the place, and cause significant property damage. :hmm:
Just like my sister in laws' kids. :)
Quote from: The Brain on March 27, 2014, 12:11:40 PM
Humans, pigs and rats rule.
If the OP rat were any larger, the Brain would ask it on a date. :)
Try having the plague a few times, Psellus. See if you still find rats amazing.
Quote from: Norgy on March 27, 2014, 01:02:42 PM
Try having the plague a few times, Psellus. See if you still find rats amazing.
Not the rat's fault it was a disease vector for humans. I mean, people are a disease vector. Do I hate people?
I would think that rats being a disease vector has a lot to do with their behavior.
It is more the fact that they like the stuff people like and so try to invade human spaces to eat it that causes the trouble. Few people hate muskrats.
The sole reason cats were domesticated was that they sought out human settlements. Not for tummy rubs and cuddles, but because there were rodents everywhere and any human settlement was a food basket for them.
Rats co-exist with humans, same as mice. That doesn't make them any more sanitary to have around.
My congratulations to the Clan Moulder breedmasters. Nice job.
Quote from: Queequeg on March 27, 2014, 12:07:24 PMTBH I wonder a lot of the time if the human hatred of rats is because we recognize so many of our most basic qualities (omnivorous, all-encompassing diet, complex social behavior, ability to thrive in any environment no matter the extremity or uncleanliness) in them. Besides being our neighbor, they are kind of spiritual kin.
No, it's because they are gross. You can't seriously think that.
Quote from: Malthus on March 27, 2014, 12:36:50 PM
Quote from: Caliga on March 27, 2014, 12:13:22 PM
Quote from: Queequeg on March 27, 2014, 12:07:24 PM
TBH I wonder a lot of the time if the human hatred of rats is because we recognize so many of our most basic qualities (omnivorous, all-encompassing diet, complex social behavior, ability to thrive in any environment no matter the extremity or uncleanliness) in them. Besides being our neighbor, they are kind of spiritual kin.
I wonder if it could also be the fact that they invade our houses, piss and shit all over the place, and cause significant property damage. :hmm:
Just like my sister in laws' kids. :)
:lol:
Quote from: HVC on March 27, 2014, 12:26:44 PM
Quote from: Queequeg on March 27, 2014, 12:25:03 PM
Hatred of rats is a pretty peculiarly European, or at least Abrahamic thing. In India there is Karni Mata temple, and it is a symbol of the zodiac in China.
india "rat hunter" are a low caste for a reason. They dislike rats so much that those with contact with them are looked down upon.
The Chinese singled out rats for destruction during their four pests campaign. People figured a long time ago that rats eat grain, and thus are a problem.
Quote from: Barrister on March 27, 2014, 12:15:42 PM
Not in Alberta they don't. :showoff:
Yep, Alberta is rat free. There was a report of one in Medicine Hat awhile back but it was brought to justice quickly.
If they could only do that in Quebec to the frogs.
So are rats taking over?
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-overrun-by-mega-rats--6895494
QuoteRats the size of cats spotted as numbers in Birmingham soar
Huge rats the size of cats are prowling Birmingham's streets.
City pest control officer Colin Watts revealed he had seen a 2ft rodent – which he said was as "wide as a brick" – on the loose.
Birmingham is battling a growing problem which saw more than 5,100 rat alerts recorded in the past year.
Calls over rats in city homes were up by almost 300 on the previous 12 months.
The worst three districts were Ladywood with 982 calls, Hodge Hill with 739 and Perry Barr with 707.
Time to open a Birmingham Rataurant.
Wonder if the warm, wet winter in the UK (and Scandiland?) has contributed in any way...
I, for one, welcome our new rodent overlords.
Had to call in the local council to put down poisoned bait in my garden not even two months ago. First time in my nearly forty years of life in this town that that's happened.
So what's around now, that wasn't around before, that the rats are eating? Just more human detritus?