Posted on 01/03/2005 6:42:33 PM PST by pickemuphere
KEY WEST, Fla. - The Florida Keys, already dealing with invasive exotics from melaleuca to iguanas, have added another to the list of unwanted newcomers: the African Gambian pouch rat.
Biologists and conservationists in the Keys say the rodent needs to be eradicated, before it increases its range and harms native species that live in natural areas of the Keys.
Although it is unclear how or why the rat — which can grow as big as a raccoon — was released on Grassy Key, biologists are saying the animal could be devastating to the Florida Keys' ecological system.
The omnivores, or animals that eat almost everything, could compete for food with endangered species such as the silver rice rat, carry diseases and eat bird eggs.
And the greater threat is that the pouch rat could make it to Key Largo, threatening the endangered wood rat, biologists say. And, even worse, the rat that can grow up to nine pounds might make it to the Florida Everglades.
(Excerpt) Read more at story.news.yahoo.com ...
Do they fry-up good and tasty?
They just need some Viking Kitties to come open a can
of whoop ass.
Seriously, however, do you have any idea where they came from? The article was a little vague on that.
I imagine they could probably join the possums that snuffle back and forth under my window at night, but on the other hand, I'd rather they didn't. I have too many rodent fights in my backyard at night to add another round.
They should stop voting for them then.
"Plywood is a staple of the Gambian rat's diet."
That's probably how they got here. Back during the Monkeypox outbreak (which probably was imported via said Giant Gambian rats) it was reported the only reason said rats were being imported is the some ex-Africans liked to eat them.
Do they not have a sense of humor?
Actually, my wife has some experience in India with similar creatures called "Bandi Goats" and they are not the most popular inhabitants of the area. Gambians are technically pouched rats.
Call me a smart@ss...but I'd be willing to bet they're from "Gambia."
Good grief... thank some dork with a penchant for exotic animals. I'll bet they have pet piranhas too.
Some owners are unprepared for the destructive abilities of these rats. Like other rodents they need to chew, and with their large size and teeth they can do a lot of damage quickly if they are not supervised closely when outside of the cage for playtime.
Eeek.
Darn! I was all ready to post a picture of Ted Kennedy.
Shucks!
Boa constrictors. Let them loose into the rat's feeding ground and watch the fur fly. Yuck, bad pun...
I think you're gonna need a bigger boa :)
Yes, but how did they get here? I don't think the Keys are being flooded with Gambian boat-people (or boat rats).
That's probably true. IIRC, gerbils are no longer sold in California because the terrain is so close to their natural terrain that the potential for a "gerbil outbreak" from escaped gerbils is significant. When you consider how fast rodents breed, this is not a joke.
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