20 Reasons Why Rats Are Bad (Damage and Disease)

Brown Rat jumping over a railing

Rats have lived alongside humans for thousands of years, and throughout history, they’ve earned a reputation as dangerous pests. This bad reputation isn’t just unfair prejudice or superstition. Rats cause real, serious problems for human health, property, food supplies, and the environment. So what are the reasons why rats are bad? Rats are bad because … Read more

20 Reasons Why Rats Are Good (Backed by Science)

Brown Rat in vegetation

When most people think about rats, they picture disease-carrying pests invading homes and spreading filth. But rats actually have many positive qualities that often get overlooked because of their bad reputation. These intelligent, social animals serve important roles in nature, science, and even as companion animals. So what are the reasons why rats are good? … Read more

What Diseases Can Rats Give You? (Risks of Dealing With Rats

Brown Rat jumping over a railing

Rats have lived alongside humans for thousands of years, and unfortunately, they’ve brought some unwanted guests with them: diseases. These rodents can carry and spread various illnesses that can make you seriously sick. Some of these diseases are mild, while others can be life-threatening if you don’t get treatment. So what disease do rats give … Read more

Why Do Rats Have Black Eyes? (The Role of Eumelanin

Brown rat next to a wire fence

If you’ve ever looked closely at a rat, you’ve probably noticed their small, dark eyes staring back at you. These beady black eyes are one of the most recognizable features of rats, but they actually serve some pretty interesting purposes beyond just looking a bit creepy. So why do rats have black eyes? Rats have … Read more

Why Do Rats Get Zoomies? (Releasing Pent-Up Energy

Fancy rat

If you’ve ever watched pet rats during playtime, you’ve probably seen them suddenly take off running around their cage or play area like they’ve lost their minds. They’ll sprint in circles, bounce off walls, do flips, and basically act like they’re supercharged with energy. This behavior is often called “zoomies,” and it’s both hilarious and … Read more

Why Do I Have Rats in My Yard? (Food & Trash Is Luring Them

A group of Brown Rats drinking water

Walking outside and spotting a rat darting across your lawn or disappearing under your deck can be pretty alarming. Most people don’t expect to see rats in their yard, especially if they keep things relatively clean. But rats in residential yards are actually more common than you might think. If you’re dealing with this problem, … Read more

Why Do Rats Yawn? (What It Tells About Their Mood

Gambian Pouched Rat on a table

If you’ve ever watched a rat closely, you might have caught it in the middle of a big yawn. They open their mouth really wide, sometimes showing all their teeth, and it looks just like when a person or dog yawns. It’s actually pretty cute and funny to see such a tiny animal doing something … Read more