The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Rodent The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Rodent
Showing posts with label Rodent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rodent. Show all posts

Thursday, February 10, 2022

How to Care for a Pet Mouse


Pet mice are entertaining to watch, are easy to care for, and make very few demands on their owners. They are a bit skittish and harder to handle than some larger rodents, such as rats, but they can learn to be comfortable with handling, especially if tamed from a young age. Pet mice come in a wide array of colors with fairly short fur. Their rounded ears and long tail have minimal fur. As nocturnal animals, mice will generally be most active at night and sleep through the day. In terms of their care, they require a quality rodent food and regular habitat cleanings.

To read more on this story, click here: How to Care for a Pet Mouse


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Tuesday, February 8, 2022

10 Best Small Rodents to Keep as Pets


There is a range of small rodents commonly kept as pets. Some are fairly easy to tame and enjoy human interaction while others are more timid. Several tend to be more active at night, which might not fit with some people's lifestyles. Still, they are fairly low-maintenance pets if you provide them with the appropriate housing, exercise, and diet. If you're looking for a small, furry companion, here are 10 of the best small rodents to choose from.

To read more on this story, click here: 10 Best Small Rodents to Keep as Pets


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Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Keeping and Caring for Pet Rats


Rats are intelligent and social animals that can make wonderful pets. They are also easily tamed, making rats especially great for someone who likes to handle their pets.

To learn how to care for them, click here: Keeping and Caring for Pet Rats



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Monday, August 23, 2021

Male vs Female Chinchilla: Which One Should You Get? (With Pictures)


Chinchillas may be one of the softest, cutest rodents on the planet. When you finally decide to get a plush chinchilla—you have a big decision right off the rip. Should you get a male or female? Even at the pet store, do they really know the difference? Sometimes, trained professionals can get it wrong, too.

Chinchillas should stay in pairs or trios because they are social creatures. So, especially if you’re getting multiple, you might not want to get a little surprise birth of babies—no matter how cute they might be. Let’s go over the differences you can expect between the two genders and learn how you can tell yourself.

To read more on this story, click here: Male vs Female Chinchilla: Which One Should You Get? (With Pictures)


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Sunday, August 15, 2021

Degu: Species Profile


Degus are small, burrowing rodents native to Chile that make great pets. In the wild, they live in communities of up to 100, much like prairie dogs. These social, curious animals are one of the few rodents that are awake during the day (diurnal), which adds to their pet appeal. They are great nappers, but once they get used to your schedule, these little creatures will come to greet you, often looking to play or get some belly rubs. They crave social interaction and exercise.

To read more on this story, click here: Degu: Species Profile



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Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Did You Know That Cats Are Really Bad at Catching Rats?


Cats are good at so many thing — napping, chasing laser pointer dots around the room, napping, eating, and napping, just to name a few — but apparently they’re really, really bad at catching rats. A new study published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution explains just how terrible they are at doing one of the things they’re supposed to be good at.

As Wired reports, researchers led by Michael Parsons set up shop at a waste disposal facility in New York City in the hopes of studying urban rats in their natural environment. The original plan was to catch and release the rats and then study their behavior so that they could come up with more efficient ways of curbing rat populations. That’s when the cats spoiled their party… well, sort of.

Not content to just throw in the towel, the team decided to observe how the rats interacted with a group of feral cats which had made the facility their home. The felines, which are well-known as rodent hunters, would surely make life difficult for the rats, right?

Apparently not.

Using cameras to document the happenings inside the dump’s walls, the researchers found plenty of instances of the cats and rats being in the same place at the same time. They recorded over 300 instances of both cats and rats within close proximity of each other.

However, only 20 times did a cat actually attempt to hunt its rodent prey, and almost never actually followed through. In fact, only two rats were killed during the entirety of the observation period. Most of the time the cats just kind of watched the rodents from afar or ignored them completely.

But while the cats were clearly not adept at killing the rats, they did affect how the rats behaved in other ways. When the cats were present, the rats were more careful about their movements, sneaking around rather than trotting out in plain sight. This, as it turns out, does more harm than good, since stealthy rats are harder for humans to control and eliminate.

Feral cats have proven to be troublesome pests in their own right. In Australia, cats which hunt birds are such a massive problem that huge “cat-free zones” are under construction that will serve as a haven for bird populations to recover.

Coming up with new ways of controlling rats in urban environments is certainly a noble effort, but cats are apparently not the answer.


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Friday, February 1, 2019

Man Discovers A Family Of Mice Living In His Garden, Builds Them A Miniature Village


Recently, wildlife photography aficionado Simon Dell stumbled upon the family of a cute mouse running around his garden. Instead of reaching for the traps, however, he took out his tools. Dell built the mice a miniature village, and they repaid him by posing for adorable animal photography shots.

“I was out one day just taking photos of the birds in the garden and having just cut the grass I noticed something moving on the ground,” Simon told Bored Panda. “I pointed my camera at the ground and was shocked but very happy to see a very cute little house mouse standing up just like a meerkat in the fresh cut grass.”

To read more on this story, click here: Man Discovers A Family Of Mice Living In His Garden, Builds Them A Miniature Village



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Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Rats Chewed Through About $18,000 Worth of Cash Inside An ATM


A local Indian bank got a series of complaints about one of its ATMs. The cause of its sudden malfunction is quite unsettling.

Just thinking about this story alone sends shivers down our spines. What you are about to read will definitely give you quite a shock.

In the Tinkusia district, located in the Eastern state of Assam, India, an ATM was starting to act a bit askew.

Countless people were soon left with empty pockets when the machine simply just wouldn't shoot out any more cash.

After a series of complaints from the bummed out ATM users, the bank's officials decided it was time to figure out exactly what was going on.

If you thought the ATM was robbed bone-dry, then guess again. Instead, it was a family of squeaky rats that had made their way inside the machine. The wily rats had proceeded to nibble through banknote after banknote, destroying a whopping amount of roughly 1.2 million rupees, nearly $18,000. The gobsmacked bank employees even found a rotting dead rat at the scene of the crime. You can see in the photos of what a few destructive rats can do over a short period of time.

To read more on this story, click here: Rats Chewed Through About $18,000 Worth of Cash Inside An ATM

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Flight Delayed After Woman Brings 'Emotional Support Squirrel' On Plane


Police escorted a woman off a plane Tuesday after she brought an unexpected furry friend on a Frontier Airlines flight from Orlando to Cleveland – a squirrel. 

The woman informed Frontier Airlines she was taking an "emotional support animal" on the flight from Florida when she made her reservation, according to the Associated Press. However, she did not say the animal was a squirrel. The airline said they called Orlando police after they asked the woman to leave the plane with the animal and she refused.

"Rodents, including squirrels, are not allowed on Frontier flights. The passenger was advised of the policy and was asked to deplane," said Jonathan Freed, director of corporate communications at Frontier Airlines. "When she refused to deplane, Orlando Police were called and everyone was deplaned so police could deal with the passenger. Police eventually escorted the passenger off the aircraft and returned her to the main terminal."

To read more on this story, click here: Flight Delayed After Woman Brings 'Emotional Support Squirrel' On Plane

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Wednesday, November 15, 2017

The Hero Rats of Africa Sniff Out Land Mines — and TB Infections


MOROGORO, Tanzania — The grass is still damp with dew as the sun begins to glint over the Uluguru Mountains. It’s only 7 a.m. in Morogoro, Tanzania, but Oprah and Malala and Taylor Swift and the others are already hard at work. They are heroes in the region, literal saviors to thousands of Tanzanians and those in the international community as well. It is on this large swath of land that giant African pouched rats, often named by their handlers after celebrities or loved ones, are meticulously trained for nine months to sniff out land mines. Down the dusty red dirt road, you’ll find others just like them — but there the rats are training in a laboratory, learning how to detect tuberculosis amid thousands of samples.

It is here in the field that APOPO, a nonprofit organization that trains African giant pouched rats to undertake such endeavors, works its magic. The humans are patient, methodical, while the rats seem eager to learn — an interaction reminiscent of a new owner training a puppy. After each rat undergoes its daily weigh-in — they are generally between two and three pounds — it is put in a harness to walk one of the areas marked off on the field. It paces the ground, scratching feverishly when it detects a dismantled land mine beneath the surface. An APOPO worker uses a clicker to notify the rat that it is correct. The rat then scrambles to receive its treat of bananas or peanuts. After nine months of training, they are shipped out to APOPO’s partner organizations in various countries, where they will detect and help dismantle thousands of land mines that have been left over from decades of prior conflicts.

To read more on this story, click here: The Hero Rats of Africa Sniff Out Land Mines — and TB Infections

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Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Man Captures Footage of a Massive Spider Carrying an Adult Mouse


Coppabella, Australia - An Australian man summoned to his neighbor's kitchen to "see something cool" captured footage of a massive spider carrying its next meal, an adult mouse.

Jason Womas of Coppabella, Queensland, posted a video to Facebook of the gigantic huntsman spider carrying the apparently dead mouse up the side of his neighbor's refrigerator.

"So I am just about to leave for work... and me neighbor says 'You want to see something cool' and I say 'Hell yeah.' So we proceed to his place and he shows me this. Huntsman trying to eat a mouse," Womas wrote.

He said in a follow-up post that he and his neighbor decided to let the spider go about its business unharmed and they gave it a name, Hermie.

"OK guys so just letting you all know that the spider is fine. We have named him Hermie, we have adopted him and he is now running his own extermination business out of our town Coppabella. Oh and he is now paying rent," Womas posted.



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Monday, February 8, 2016

15-Inch Monster Rat Burrowed Itself in a Family’s Home Behind Their Kitchen Sink


A Swedish family actually lived what is probably many people’s worst nightmare after they discovered that a 15-inch monster rat had chewed through the wood and cement into their home and burrowed itself behind their kitchen sink.

This “Viking rat” was discovered by the Bengtsson-Korsås family at their Solna home after their cat Enok refused to enter the kitchen. The family already had suspicions that there was a mouse in their home after hearing noises, so when they went to empty the trash bin, they were shocked to find that a monster rat had made itself a home.

“It was right there in our rubbish bin, a mighty monster. I was petrified. I couldn't believe such a big rat could exist,” said Signe Bengtsson-Korsås. “I couldn't help but do the old classic and jump on the kitchen table and scream.”

Signe’s husband Eric said he didn’t believe his wife at first, but when he finally came in contact with the rat himself, he was horrified by how large it was.

“It was quite a shocking experience,” said Eric Bengtsson-Korsås. “By the time I got home, the rat was so domesticated that it just sat under the kitchen table.”

The family quickly realized that the rat had actually came in through the basement, chewed through the wood and cement, and then made its way into the kitchen to chew through the pipes under the sink, ultimately causing a flood in the home.

Exterminators were called to kill the monster rat, and a day after putting three giant rat traps down, one of them went off. Shockingly, the rat wasn’t immediately killed. It ran around with the rat trap around its neck for some time before it eventually died.

"In the end we managed to find it dead, it had slowly strangled," said Eric. "Then we felt a bit sorry for it."
  



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Thursday, April 2, 2015

Meet The Texas Couple Who Shares Their Home with an Eight-Stone Capybara, Named Gary: It's No Different Than Having a Dog or Cat


Finding an eight-stone rodent on the couch would see most people racing for the phone to dial pest control.

But it's a daily occurrence for Melanie Typaldos, 57 and her husband Richard Loveman, 54, who share their home in Buda, Texas, with a giant capybara named Gary.

Ms Typaldos adopted Gary after falling in love with the semi-aquatic mammals - the world's largest rodent - during a holiday in Venezuela. They love their pet they even let him sleep in their bed.

"Athough some people might find it strange, it's really no different than having a dog or a cat," said Ms. Typaldos. 

"Gary is really very smart and he's very affectionate. He comes when he's called and he likes to sleep with me," she added.

Ms. Typaldos adopted the capybara from an owner who was no longer able to care for him, and said the cuddly eight-stone creature quickly became a part of the family.

The 57-year-old even claims to have taught Gary to perform tricks.

"He learns tricks very quickly, faster than your typical dog would," she said.

"He knows how to shake, turn in a circle, and stand up on his hind legs. He even jumps up on things on command."

In their natural habitat, capybaras spend most of their time in the water - so Melanie installed a giant pool in her garden to make Gary feel at home.

He was also introduced to the animal lover's menagerie of other pets; including a horse, rabbits tortoises, dogs and a cat.

She said: "He gets on well with the other animals, although he likes to chase the rabbits for fun.  He does sometimes get angry with the tortoises because he thinks they invade his space and there is nothing he can do about it."

Ms. Typaldos takes Gary, who lives on a diet of grass, to visit pupils at schools around Buda to help educate the children about different animals.

She said: "Most people don't know what a capybara is but as soon as they see him, they want to come pet him and feed him treats. He loves the attention," she added.

Despite her affection for her pet, Ms. Typaldos warned that capybaras were not your standard domestic pet.

"Capybaras can be quite aggressive sometimes and their teeth are very, very sharp," she said.

"Gary is not at all aggressive, but a capybara bite can be pretty serious."

"He gives you that same sort of companionship and affection that other animals do, I can't imagine life without him." She said.




















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Thinking About Adopting a Capybara? You May Want to Reconsider Your Choices


While they are extraordinary animals and are very tame, there are many drawbacks to keep a capybara as a pet.

First and foremost, in some places, it is illegal to keep them as pets. In Texas and Pennsylvania you are allowed to keep them, and in many other places, you would need to consult your local legislation to see if you need any special permit.

But legal formalities aside, make sure you understand what keeping a capybara as a pet involves.

Capybaras live in groups, thus adopting one animal only will not be good.

You would need to adopt at least two capybaras, but preferably more.

Secondly, consider their size. They are huge. They are more than twice the size of a jackrabbit, they are the biggest rodents. Keeping at least two big rodents in good condition may be challenging and costly in itself, but besides that, they have special needs as well.

Because they are semi-aquatic creatures, you would have to provide them with plenty of water at all times.

And they need plenty of space. It is not a wise idea to keep them indoors, as they will chew on everything they find. Your carpet and furniture won’t be safe with a capybara nearby.

If you still decide to get a capybara as a pet and provide them everything they need, make sure you have a nearby vet who can take care of the pet if needed. And make sure to fence the place where you keep them, as otherwise they will run away, as they are very fast animals.

Finally, if everything that was written here didn’t deter you from trying to keep one as a pet, reward yourself with watching this video of Garibaldi Rous, a pet capybara. 











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Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Are There Dangers In Keeping Pet Rats?


Picture of pet rat
There are very few dangers of keeping pet rats, but only if those rats are domesticated and kept in cages. Rats that have ever been wild may carry a number of diseases that can be transmitted to humans. When the animals have never lived in the wild, the dangers of getting a disease from them are nearly eradicated. Even so, humans should not handle rodents that may have a disease if there is any risk of transmission.

While rats can carry many different diseases, ones kept as pet very rarely have any way of catching them. Diseases may be spread through bites and scratches and occasionally through contact on the skin. It is possible for a rat to carry a disease that is hazardous to humans without showing any symptoms, making it difficult to judge whether the animal is safe to handle. The best way for a pet owner to avoid getting sick is to keep his rats healthy and clean.

Rats that run around freely in a house are much more dangerous than those kept in cages. Diseases can be carried by rat urine and feces, which rats often drop wherever they walk. Also, because rats can get urine and feces on their feet, it is possible for a person to get sick from handling one and touching her face or food without washing her hands.

Other than diseases, the dangers of keeping pet rats are similar to those of keeping other pets. Rats can bite or scratch, and they can be aggressive if handled or raised improperly. Most are relatively small, meaning that the capacity of a rat to injure a human is likely less than that of a dog. Even so, bites can be painful and can get seriously infected, so it is not a good idea to touch or handle a rat unless it is familiar.

Most concerns over the dangers of keeping rats as pets are related to the history of wild rats spreading disease, not to domesticated rats. Not only are domesticated ones unlikely to spread diseases, but their diet and natural behaviors might even make them safer than animals like cats and dogs. Even so, a rat that looks sick or that has been out in the wild for any period of time should be inspected by a veterinarian. When they do spread diseases, those diseases have a tendency to be serious and are not always easy to diagnose because they are often rare.



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Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Guinea Pigs Can Be Great Pets For Children


Picture of guinea pig
Guinea pigs are small members of the rodent family native to South America, but they have been domesticated for several hundred years. They were popular lap pets in European courts, and their names have become synonymous with "test subject." Many people find them to be an excellent pet for a home or apartment.

A guinea pig is often thought of as a good pet for children, and this is true, but as with all pets, parents must make certain the child is old enough to be gentle with the animal and mature enough to care for it properly. They are sociable animals and need homes where they will receive attention and affection. Being left in a cage and ignored is a harsh life for the animal since they are affectionate and love to be held. Owners should be prepared for this.

A prospective owner should get a good book on guinea pig care and read it carefully. The animal's needs are not elaborate, but at the most basic, one needs a roomy cage, safe bedding, a ceramic food bowl, a water bottle with a sipper spout, pellets, and timothy hay.

Some people put a little plastic or wooden shelter inside the cage, but this is not recommended for the first week or so at home. The rodent may retreat inside the shelter and refuse to come out, except to eat. A shelter should only be added after the pet has become accustomed to its environment.

Guinea pigs are strict vegans: they do not eat any kind of meat product and do not need dairy products or sweets. A nugget of corn or wheat cereal once in a while may be a nice treat, but these should not be given regularly. Pellets formulated especially for these animals should compose the bulk of the diet, along with timothy hay.

Some cages have ricks where hay can be placed for eating at leisure, but most piggies do not nibble throughout the day &mdsah; they will eat an entire rick-full and "week" for more. Incidentally, the “wheek!” is a noise that the animal does not make in the wild. It is a call reserved for humans opening the refrigerator, and the animal knows exactly what is in there: treats.

Within their limits, these rodents are fairly bright. They know what the refrigerator is for, or at least that opening the door means a treat might be in their future. Pets seem to respond to their owners coming in from being absent, and they certainly relish being picked up and loved. They return affection with nuzzles, head butts and gurgles of contentment.

The guinea pig is a prey creature, and so will mask illness. An owner should look for any nasal discharge or diarrhea and notice if the animal is not drinking water. These are sure signs of illness, and time is always of the essence when treating this rodent. If possible, the animal should be taken to a veterinarian specializing in exotic pets for treatment.

The animal’s cage should be kept out of direct sunlight and drafts. The room temperature should be fairly consistent to help keep illness away. Loud noises should be kept to a minimum, when possible.

One great advantage of the guinea pig as a pet is that it is quiet. It will wheek and squeak and gurgle, but not loudly. They rattle their water bottles and bang items around in their cages, but do not create much commotion.

When their cages are kept clean, these pets also have very little odor. People are rarely allergic to them, which makes them good pets for those who love animals but can't have a cat or dog. Most are also generally fastidious little animals and keep themselves groomed, although gentle brushing with a soft-bristled brush is also appreciated.

Guinea pigs are often packed with personality and friendliness. They rarely bite and are sociable, likable little animals. As such, they can make excellent pets.




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Saturday, February 14, 2015

The Biggest Rodent to Ever Stalk the Earth Lived About 3 Million Years Ago - Extinct Mega-Rodent Had Teeth Like Elephant Tusks


Talk about a rodent of unusual size.

The biggest rodent to ever stalk the Earth lived about 3 million years ago in what is now South Africa — and it used its large front teeth the way today's elephants use their tusks.

The bull-size creature likely used its incisors to root around in the ground for food, possibly even fighting off predators with the sturdy teeth, according to a new study.

To read more on this story, click here: The Biggest Rodent to Ever Stalk the Earth Lived About 3 Million Years Ago FOLLOW US!
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Thursday, November 20, 2014

Cuban Couple Keeps Rodents Called Hutias As Pets


Picture of man and woman with dog
Bainoa, Cuba (AP) — Some people keep guinea pigs or hamsters as pets.

But in Cuba, where a larger, more exotic rodent runs wild, Ana Pedraza and her husband prefer the hutia.

With a rope-like tail and long front teeth, the hutia looks like a giant rat, only cuter, some would say. They live in Cuba and other Caribbean islands where they are sometimes hunted for food.

To read more on this story, click here: Cuban Couple Keeps Rodents Called Hutias As Pets FOLLOW US!
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Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Role for White Rat: Unexpected Star on Broadway


Picture of white rat
The Broadway cast was less than thrilled when it found out who one of their fellow performers would be. It made them squeamish — not because of who it was but because of what it was.

They would be sharing the stage, it turned out, with a live rat.

“The idea of a rat was not exactly familiar to me,” said Alex Sharp, an actor who plays the leading role. “It was just a thing you see in the subway that has diseases.”

To read more on this story, click here: Role for White Rat: Unexpected Star on Broadway FOLLOW US!
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Sunday, October 19, 2014

New York City's Rats Are Carrying Viruses No One's Seen Before


Everyone who's ever used a New York City subway knows that they're teeming with rats, and that said rats are, almost by definition, disgusting. But no one had quantified just how disgusting they are ... until now.

A team of scientists at Columbia University trapped 133 Norway rats — Rattus norvegicus — from five sites in midtown and lower Manhattan, and used DNA sequencing to catalogue the pathogens they carry.


To read more on this story, click here: New York City's Rats Are Carrying Viruses No One's Seen Before








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