Giant, nine-pound Gambian rats invading Florida Keys

[raccoon]

(Not to worry, Floridians, your gators can take care of them if they get to the mainland.)

...a breed of giant, Gambian rats have been rapidly reproducing in the Florida Keys despite a decade-long effort to wipe them out. KeysNet reports the invasive, African native species first began showing up between 1999-2001 after a local exotic animal breeder released eight of the rats into the wild.

"We thought we had them whipped as of 2009," said Scott Hardin, exotic species coordinator for Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "We think they have not moved far but they clearly reproduced," he said.

The rodents, officially known as the Gambian pouched rat, are the largest known breed of rats in the world. They can grow up to three feet in length and weigh as much as nine pounds. Wildlife officials fear that if the large-sized rodents make it to the Florida mainland, they could devastate local crops if they reach the Florida mainland.....


http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/giant-nine-pound-gambian-rats-invading-florida-keys-210522485.html;_ylt=ArTALUgPrlrNlrY9wlEEOBzEeOd_;_ylu=X3oDMTRpYTRtYmh2BG1pdANGZWF0dXJlZCBCbG9nIFRoZSBVcHNob3QgTmV0d29yawRwa2cDMmM3NTcxYWYtNTU2MC0zZjM3LWFlNWYtNGVmMDI1YmExMjA2BHBvcwM0BHNlYwNNZWRpYUZlYXR1cmVkTGlzdAR2ZXIDZDA1N2QzMjItNzc5My0xMWUxLWJjMmUtNzQ4ZjJhNWJiOWJi;_ylg=X3oDMTNldW9hODgyBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDMGJiMDU3YmMtMmJhMy0zOTFkLThmNzctN2I4YjNjZGMzZTA0BHBzdGNhdANvcmlnaW5hbHN8dGhlc2lkZXNob3cEcHQDc3RvcnlwYWdlBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3

[JNelson6563]

1. Another good reason for me to avoid Florida.

[1monster]

21. If they make it to mainland Florida, then prepare. Within a couple of

years, they'll be on their way California, Mexico, Canada, and all points in between, near and far.

[gateley]

2. I would have a fucking heart attack if I ever saw one of those. ANOTHER reason not to

venture into Florida!

[Fawke Em]

12. Awww... the one in the picture was cute.

I do, of course, realize that the feral ones would be carrying diseases and would, therefore, be very dangerous, but I can still they're cute, can't I?

[gateley]

29. Of course you can! And I'm very impressed with your ability to see the beauty in any

of God's creatures. Except Republicans.

[Fawke Em]

34. I just waded through the most vile, idiotic, rascist

and stupid comments on a Faux News site article on Trayvon (at the request of another DUer who wanted others to see this crap), so your comment about not seeing the beauty in all God's creatures, except Republicans, is true.

There is no beauty there.

[MineralMan]

24. Ever seen a muskrat?

Except for the fact that these Gambian rats are non-native and would compete with native animals, they don't post any real threat to humans.

They should be eliminated, but they're not a fearsome beast. You notice the photo? That one's a pet of that man. Here's a photo of a muskrat. They're everywhere in the country. They weigh up to 4 pounds. Are you afraid of these? Trust me, they're far more afraid of you.

[gateley]

27. I was going to respond and say "No, and DON'T post a picture!"

But this little guy is kind of cute.

Of course THIS is what immediately came to mind when I read the piece



And I don't have Westley around to fight it off for me! Although, maybe if I looked like Robin Wright...

I doubt I'll ever have the opportunity to be in the situation where I can say "Mineral Man WAS right -- it IS far more afraid of me!" So I'll take your word on it.

[MineralMan]

31. I fish a lot, and muskrats live around water.

So, I see them fairly frequently. If I'm not very active, which happens a lot, the muskrats just ignore me and go about their business of swimming, eating, and diving into their little houses built of reeds. If I stand up or move too much, they instantly dive underwater.

There's one place I fish, though, where the muskrat that has his house near the fishing spot has gotten used to humans being around. That one never hides, and just continues its rounds. They're kinda cute, but you never get very close to them. I enjoy watching them. Very industrious little critters.

[originalpckelly]

35. The tail is icky, but the rest is cute and fuzzy.

[MineralMan]

37. And the Gambian Rat isn't cute and fuzzy?

Why? Seems cute to me. I want to pet that one sitting on that man's shoulder.

[BiggJawn]

40. Never seen one dry.

Usually see them with a wet coat, and they're sleek and shiny like a Seal or Otter.

Muskrat Suzie, Muskrat Sam, do the jitterbug in Muskratland...

[hifiguy]

3. Rats the size of cats or raccoons.

Another good reason to stay the hell out of Florida.

[Marrah_G]

4. That is one big rat!

[Cirque du So-What]

5. If the gators don't get 'em

the Burmese pythons will.

[X_Digger]

13. Or the tegus

http://www.wbir.com/news/article/120786/141/Tegu-lizards-bring-additional-threat-to-S-Floridas-natural-habitat

[raccoon]

18. Perhaps Florida should give the death penalty to anyone releasing non-native animals into the wild.

Well, sort of.

[FSogol]

6. They'll be easier to spot in Floridian restaurants.

[saras]

7. It's an arms race - they have to keep up with the politicians

Bigger rats in office, bigger rats in the fields...

[KansDem]

8. They'll have company...

The GOP holds its national convention there in August.

[LiberalEsto]

9. Did you say pouched or poached?

And if poached, what kind of marinade?

[izquierdista]

10. They have to get past the Burmese pythons first.

[BiggJawn]

11. I see a business opportunity here...

The "Florida Keys Rat Safari ADVENTURE"... So you think you're a great hunter, eh? Hit Prairie Dogs from 200 yards? Well, come to the Keys and take on a REAL adversary, the Gambian Pouched Rat. You'll freeze the first time you see one! Stand Your Ground!

And after you've collect your Trophy, relax at Margueritaville.

[onehandle]

14. I was thinking petting zoo.

I wonder if these rats can be domesticated as well as common rats?

[X_Digger]

19. Yup, they apparently make great pets.

You wouldn't want to try to domesticate a wild caught one, but a wild caught one's babies? Sure.

http://www.lovinggsd.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14619

[lpbk2713]

33. This is how they'll start showing up in Seattle and Milwuakee and The Hamptons.

"Awww, isn't he cute."


Maybe not after you start seeing four or five every day.

[n2doc]

22. Some people have tried

They are 'difficult' to take care of since they can be tamed, but haven't been domesticated. So they are very fussy about their habitat, chew/dig a lot, and aren't all that friendly. But they are smart and have been trained as excellent mine detectors in africa.
see
http://www.apopo.org/cms.php?cmsid=107

[Blue_Tires]

15. How does Florida have so many idiots that don't know about invasive species?

And who looks at some shit like THAT and says "Oh, yeah! I wanna adopt it!"

[JBoy]

16. Don't stop the car!

[EmeraldCityGrl]

25. Now that's funny!

[Brigid]

26. That's what my cats would look like if they saw one of those things!

Seriously, at nine pounds they're bigger than either of my kitties!

[mainer]

17. How do they taste?

I know that guinea pigs are a delicacy in some south american nations. No reason we can't offer up poached pouched rat on a dinner plate.

[Uncle Joe]

23. I heard they taste just like chicken.

[nadinbrzezinski]

41. Would not be surprised if they are on dinner tables

Meat is meat.

[trumad]

20. Nice pet.

[kestrel91316]

28. Not to worry. Burmese pythons and gators will enjoy them.

[RobertEarl]

30. Coyotes are an answer

But coyotes are illegal. They are native, tho.

[Johnson20]

38. Yes they will.

I have read that some of the pythons are exceeding 20 feet and are feeding on deer.

[Zorra]

32. Giant rats...the bobcats totally can't believe their good fortune. (pics)

And the Florida panthers are looking forward to tasty new snacks.

[geardaddy]

36. Do you think Willard has anything to do with this?

[Taverner]

39. Well, at least that will feed the invasive pythons....