Rat'snest Blog

A few years ago, I observed a blackbird in my loganberry vine had abandoned its nest after a couple of failed attempts to do some hatching.

Amazingly, a short time after, I observed that a rat had moved into that nest--he was somehow able to climb along the chicken-wire fence and up some old dead branches.

What was quite astounding to me was that he/she actually built a roof for that nest, and turned it into a little home. Talk about Wind in the Willows, and Beatrix Potter.

Of course, blackbird nests are well-made pottery of clay and dung mixed with sticks--like good wattle-and-daub walls should be. The roof of the rat's nest was a simple one of thatched sticks and twigs; perhaps some fibres and paper, too. I don't now recall. But I was, at the time, very impressed with its innovativeness and creativity; its recycling ability.

I once read that rats use brightly coloured ''found objects'' to decorate their homes and burrows with, and this is absolutely true. Once while cleaning up a shed, and finding rat burrows in the earthen floor, I found neon-coloured plastic clothes-pins, and some long-deflated children's balloons that I'd forgotten about. Also, too, some brightly coloured papers and metallic foils and things; coloured buttons. They are certainly innovative home-makers, and must be given credit for same. Clearly, human beings did not invent interior decorating. The "gene" for it is carried by rats, as well.

Rats also practice the best hygiene they are capable of, and make sections of nest with shredded paper that they set aside especially for use as a toilet area.

Rats are to be admired!