Rats are intelligent creatures that are able to recognise other rats even if they are dead. They have been known to react to dead rats in a variety of ways depending on the situation.
If a rat smells a dead rat it will usually avoid the area. This is because the scent of a dead rat can indicate that there is danger in the area.
However if a rat sees a dead rat it may be curious and approach the body. It is thought that rats use dead rats as a way of gathering information about their environment. For example a rat may sniff a dead rat to see what it has been eating.
If a rat is killed by another rat the body of the deceased rat will usually be removed from the area by the killer. This is thought to be done as a way of preventing the spread of disease.
What do rats typically do when they encounter a dead rat?
Answer 1: Avoid it.