2024-11-16 14:08:00
STRATHAM, New Hampshire (AP) — You call a group of rats a “nest,” but what do you call 1,000 rats at an animal shelter?
“It’s overwhelming,” said Lisa Dennison, executive director of the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which is struggling to care for the influx of rapidly reproducing rodents.
It all started on Monday when a man came and said he wanted to transport 150 rats. But then he clarified: The 150 containers contained rats, not a single rodent. He took 73 rats with him that day, and by Friday morning, about 450 rats had moved into the shelter. Another 500 are on the way.
They are lined up from end to end and cover an area larger than an American football field. That’s enough money to give every member of the United States Congress and all 424 members of the New Hampshire Legislature a mouse. Thanks to fundamental laws of biology, this number continues to grow. Mice reach sexual maturity at about six weeks of age, gestation lasts about 20 days, and they can mate again after 24 hours.
“In the short time we’ve had them, many of the rats have given birth,” Denison said. “This is an exponential problem that continues to grow.”
Part of the shelter’s cat ward has been converted into a rat hospital and restaurant, with dozens of containers lining the floor and stacked on tables and shelves. Just registering each rat in the shelter’s database is complicated enough, let alone providing food, water and a place to sleep.
That’s a lot of work for a facility that at its peak housed 125 animals a day.
“Sure, you get a lot, but even if we get 54 goats or we adopt 39 cats, I mean, those are big numbers, but as you can imagine, they’re much more manageable than hundreds or thousands. Rats,” Denison said.
Other shelters have agreed to take in some rats, and others have been sent to foster homes while shelters seek food donations. About a dozen rats were ready for adoption Friday after being named by shelter staff and volunteers. Doug, Darrell, Dude and the deputy were in the tank waiting to go home. Others were given candy-inspired names—Butterfinger, Junior Mint, and Milk Dud, to name a few.
Elisha Murray decided to adopt four little girls named Kelly, Dee, Maxine and Eleven after hearing about the shelter on the local news. ) woman, despite telling her children last week: “No more rodents.”
“We’ve always had small rodents as pets — rats, hamsters, whatever — so I thought this might help,” he said. “We had all the equipment, everything I needed was already at home, so I thought, what the hell.”
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This story was translated from English by AP editors with the help of generated artificial intelligence tools.
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What are the main challenges the NHSPCA faces in caring for a suddenly increased rat population?
**Interview with Lisa Dennison, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NHSPCA)**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Lisa. Can you tell us what exactly happened that led to such a massive influx of rats at the shelter?
**Lisa Dennison:** Thank you for having me. It all began earlier this week when a man approached us with a request to transport 150 rats. However, he later clarified that there were actually 150 containers, each housing multiple rats. It was quite a shock! Initially, he took 73 rats with him, but by Friday morning, we had already taken in around 450 and are now anticipating an additional 500.
**Editor:** That sounds overwhelming! How is the shelter managing such a large number of animals all at once?
**Lisa Dennison:** It is indeed overwhelming, and we are doing our best to keep up. Our staff and volunteers have been working tirelessly to accommodate the needs of these hundreds of rodents. We are in the process of setting up additional housing and ensuring they have proper care and nutrition. It’s a significant challenge, especially since rats reproduce so quickly.
**Editor:** What can you tell us about the reproductive capabilities of rats that has made this situation even more pressing?
**Lisa Dennison:** Rats have a fascinating but daunting reproductive cycle. They reach sexual maturity in about six weeks, with gestation lasting around 20 days. Plus, they can mate again just 24 hours after giving birth. This means the number of rats in our shelter could multiply quickly if we don’t manage the situation effectively.
**Editor:** What are some ways the community can help as you deal with this influx of animals?
**Lisa Dennison:** We appreciate any assistance from the community. Donations of food, bedding, and supplies for small animals are invaluable. Additionally, we may need help from volunteers willing to care for these animals or to foster them until they can be adopted. We are also trying to spread awareness about responsible pet ownership to prevent situations like this in the future.
**Editor:** Thank you for shedding light on this unique situation, Lisa. What are your hopes for the coming weeks?
**Lisa Dennison:** Our primary hope is to ensure that all these animals receive the care they need and find loving homes. We also want to educate the public about the importance of spaying and neutering pets, including small animals like rats, to prevent further unintended surges in population. Thank you for your support and interest in our mission!
**Editor:** Thank you, Lisa. We wish you and your team the best of luck in handling this challenging situation.
