[atrueoriginall]

SOURCE: http://m1e.net/c?345...8-OMOX0KX3IFOkM

Giant Rats Invade Florida Keys
9-Pound Rodents Could Threaten Native Species

GRASSY KEY, Fla. -- Biologists say an unwelcome species of rat that grows as big as raccoons has turned up in the Keys. Conservationists say the African Gambian pouch rat needs to be eradicated before it starts to harm native species in the Keys. It's unclear how the rat was released on Grassy Key, but scientists say the omnivores are a threat because they eat almost anything. The giant pouch rat can weigh up to 9 pounds. Biologists say it would compete for food with native species, carry diseases, and damage the bird population by eating eggs. The fear is if the animals make it as far as Key Largo, they could threaten the Everglades.

In 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration issued an order preventing the importation of the rodents following the first reported outbreak of monkeypox in the United States. Several African species are believed to carry the disease.

Biologist Randy Grau with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the Grassy Key pouch rats are the first documented breeding population in the United States. Connie Faast, who lives on Grassy Key, had the giant rats living under her house. One night, she said, she heard loud screeches in the street. The rats were fighting. "Two cats were on the side of the road just watching the rats," Faast said.

The male pouch rats are aggressive when they encounter one another. But Chris Sutton, who lives on Grassy Key, said the rats are otherwise extremely friendly. "They get along with everything," she said. "They're tame animals to start with, and they are not afraid of people." Sutton says the rats eat out of the same dish as her cats and dogs, and her friend saw one of the rats eating out of a bird feeder.

Rumor has it that eight rats were let out five years ago. The rats have up to four litters every nine months with up to six offspring in litters, so there is no telling how many of the rats are living on Grassy Key now. So far, there are no takers to eradicate the rat. Government agencies have not stepped up to fund a project to eliminate the pests.

This post has been edited by atrueoriginall: 06 January 2005 - 04:40 AM

[Feenix Fire]

Giant Rats!
They need to hop to it!
Shoot I'll get rid of them. any means necessary.

[warden]

Geneticaly modifie your cats and give them a fighting chance

[Feenix Fire]

^

[Mad Manfred]

I've seen two of these things fight on TV...at first glance it looks, and sounds, like a couple of cats going at it

[AztecInca]

I bet they would make the perfect cerature to freak people out with in teh dark!

[Dog Demon]

OMG I want one! That's now on my "To Catch" list, alongside El Chupacabra.

[Werewolf of Doom]

Wazooo!!!! Rats rule!!! Bwahahahahahahah...now we're not underestimated!!!! (even though I'm having my name changed back to Werewolf of Doom an many sites I am known as Rat)

I would LOVE one of those as a pet!!!

This post has been edited by Rat: 07 January 2005 - 01:53 AM

[~TheBigK~]

Holy crap Those are some big rats! It would be pretty cool to have one as a pet though...

[tigger]

one of my friends works for the rspca (a very hard job to get... but fulfilling nontheless).. one day a lady comes in to the centre with a 'creature' bundled up in a blanket, she's making the coochie noises at it, and told the girl on reception
"i found this possum in my yard, and it seems sick, so i thought i best bring it in'
they thank her for her compassion, take the animal and go out the back to cage it, and to see its condition
when they unwrap it (only its nose was sticking out) it was a bloody huge sewer rat... these things are so mean that they'd rip your arm off and slap you with the soggy end

[Ruby]

How cute i want one i love animals so much you could walk them on a dog leash

[warden]

You want one as a pet....are you mad ? stupid question...........just buy a f..cked up pit bull not much differense from what i have heard