The impact of COVID-19 has spread beyond classes and races and countries – but now it is affecting other species as well.
Reports have come of extremely aggressive rats which have now started eating each other, and now attacking humans and invading human homes as well.
Rats have become cannibals, but why?
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) issued a warning last week, saying that the rat population is adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many rats have become aggressive against their nature, and have started to engage in cannibalism, and invading human houses.
Earlier, these rats would just stay outside in the sewers and eat wasted food, street garbage, and other food sources. But now the restaurants are closed and people no longer walk the roads – so there is no more littered food for the rats to eat.
COVID19: Rats Jumping Ship:The USS RatGravy Train. W/O the once daily/dependable, nutritious, & quick-hit garbage (i.e.,Rat's Trifecta), some panicked rat populatns carrying their own "issues" are in-fighting/killing, dispersing openly, & invading bldgs under door gaps????? pic.twitter.com/0zIfiH9GHV
— Bobby Corrigan (@rodentologist) March 26, 2020
People have reported rat carcasses being eaten by other rats, is this natural?
Many people have reported that they have seen rats fighting viciously among each other, and attacking humans if they get in the way. Other rats have chewed through doors and entered human houses.
This is natural for rats because any hungry mammal, even humans, get violent and start eating each other when they have nothing else to eat.
“Starving rats, of course, like most mammals will become aggressive and violent, killing and then eating other rats in order to stay alive. Rat carcasses are being seen on the streets partially eaten by stronger or other rats.”
How do the rats invade human houses?
Corrigan also said that rats are chewing through doors or squeeze through holes in buildings if they can smell food anywhere. These rats getting into human houses are extremely dangerous as they will try to attack you as well if they see you as a threat.
“Starving rats in these blocks are now wandering both day and night, in different directions, and if they smell food leaking from people’s door gaps, they will try to follow their noses and squeeze below the doors (i.e., enter the property).”
This is how you protect yourself from cannibal rats
The CDC has warned people that they should seal their houses to prevent the rats from getting in.
“Preventive actions include sealing up access into homes and businesses, removing debris and heavy vegetation, keeping garbage in tightly covered bins, and removing pet and bird food from their yards.”
Although, make sure that you do throw away some edible food along with your garbage when you dump it in the community trashcan. Rats can fill their stomach there and they won’t need to invade any homes if they are getting fed outside.
This could be the easiest and simplest away to avoid getting mauled by rats.
All Featured Images Courtesy: CNN