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Frank_Baker Frank_Baker
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10 years ago
In numbers, rats are known man-eaters, and will ferociously attack an adult and reduce him/her to bone:
http://comeheretome.com/2013/04/11/the-soldier-who-was-eaten-alive-by-rats-in-christ-church-cathedral/

So why are rats such ferocious predators, even hungry for humans, despite their small size? All other animals of a rat's size are prey, not predators. I can only think of piranha as a comparison but they are fish not mammals, mice for example are fearful of humans.
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#1
Valued Member
On Hiatus
10 years ago
Quote
Why are rats predators despite their small size?
Learn to make questions. You never proved that rat is a predator, so the whole question is completely wrong...

So, rather than asking "why are rats predators" you should ask "are rats predators?" so that you will get proper answers.

In addition, how do you take a doubtful story of a singe event as proof of the rats behavior? Not scientific at all.
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#2
Educator
10 years ago
Quote from: Frank_Baker (10 years ago)
So why are rats such ferocious predators, even hungry for humans, despite their small size?

Rats are omnivorous and will eat many things, even insects and smaller rodents... That doesn't make them 'ferocious' predators by any means.
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#3
10 years ago
I hardly think one legend of a man fighting off rats with a sword counts as evidence that rats are regular attack-and-kill predators. I have no doubts that rats will consume the flesh of a dead person, or even a person who is not yet dead but injured and largely immobile. That's scavenging, not predation. I highly doubt a group of rats would continue to attack a person who was chopping them to bits. Even if they're starving, I'd think they're more likely to attack and eat each other.
 
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#4
Staff Member
10 years ago
Frank_Baker is known for wacky stories Wink Face
- Master of Science in Biology
- Bachelor of Science
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#5
10 years ago
I don't think rats are predators. I owned three pet rats for awhile and they were some of the sweetest pets I've ever had. I think rats, like any other animal, will turn on you if you're violent toward them. This doesn't mean they are predators though, it just means they are a living being. I think it's sad that you think rats are predators
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#6
Educator
10 years ago
Quote from: nichloe87 (10 years ago)
I owned three pet rats for awhile and they were some of the sweetest pets I've ever had.

How can you rationalize that?
Frank_Baker Author
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#7
10 years ago
Rats are no longer scared of humans and see them as food.

Rat runs up to bystander and tries to eat him:
http://doubtfulnews.com/2014/08/new-york-subway-rat-attacks-innocent-bystander/
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#8
Valued Member
10 years ago
That's true, they aren't afraid of humans and have adapted to city gutters, but that doesn't mean they see us as food. Rats possess animal instinct - they have a fight or flight response. Oftentimes they don't pick fights with animals larger than they.
Frank_Baker Author
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#9
10 years ago
Now imagine these rats were starving and some poor guy stepped near a large group of them.
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#10
Valued Member
10 years ago
Quote from: Frank_Baker (10 years ago)
Now imagine these rats were starving and some poor guy stepped near a large group of them.

Yes, they would attack because it affects their survival.
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#11
Educator
10 years ago
Can't the same argument be made about pigeons? They're found in nearly every major city on this planet. Clearly they're co-existing with various societies.
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#12
10 years ago
Rats eat everything because they are omnivorous, not predators.
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass....it's about learning yo dance in the rain[/size]
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