The rat entered the kitchen via a ventilation pipe, having gnawed its way through cement and wood. Even the family cat had refused to enter the kitchen while the giant rat was in residence.
After devouring food leftovers under the sink, the creature feasted on a Swedish smorgasbord of waste in the bin. Pest controllers finally killed the intruder using an oversized trap.
After taking a few souvenir photos, the family contacted a website to see if they were interested in the story. The country's news reported on the size of the rat. From there, the story escalated.
There are two species of rat that live closer to humans than any other species.
One is the black rat, originating in India. The small black rat prefers to live in tropical areas. This species came to England and America by stowing away on ships. The black rat prefers living above ground in trees or the top levels of buildings, earning it the nicknames of the roof rat and the tree rat.
The second more commonly seen species is the Norway rat, or brown rat as some call it. Originating in Russia, the Norway rat is also the species most commonly bred as pets and also grown for snake food. It is larger and better at adapting to different environments than the black rat. The Norway rat entered America around 1775 in the same manner as the Black rat, onboard ships.
Many people assume all rats are or were the carriers of the black plague which killed thousands of people. However, the fleas on the black rat carried the disease. People during that time lived in what we would nowadays consider unsanitary conditions. The opportunist rat invaded these areas for free board and lodgings, thus bringing with it the diseased flea.
Some cultures even consider the rat a very special creature. The Japanese, the Hindus, and the Chinese all believe the rat is a sign of wealth and prosperity. In Deshnoke, India there is a temple in which thousands of rats are fed and taken care of. The Hindus believe these rats are reincarnations of their gods.
The human species and the rat have had a relationship throughout history. People are discovering their pet rat's great capacity to love and to learn. Even if you find the rat to be a gross disgusting creature, it is hard to not respect an animal with so much intelligence. The rat is truly a survivalist.
Love them or hate them, rats are here to stay.