A rat king is a group of rats whose tails are intertwined and bound together by feces urine hair or other debris. The rats cannot separate themselves and eventually die. Rat kings are rare but have been reported throughout history.
The first recorded rat king was found in the city of Nuremberg Germany in the 16th century. A local councilman reported finding a group of 30 rats with their tails knotted together. The councilman ordered the rat king to be killed and put on display in the town square.
Since then there have been several other reports of rat kings from around the world. In 1828 a rat king was found in a barn in France. In 1884 a rat king was found in a sewer in England. In 2013 a rat king was found in a house in Canada.
Rat kings are usually found in cold climates as rats are more likely to huddle together for warmth in these environments. It is unclear how the tails of the rats become knotted together. Some experts believe it is caused by a food source that the rats are fighting over. Others believe it is caused by the rats grooming each other.
Rat kings are considered to be a bad omen in many cultures. They are often seen as a sign of disease or pestilence. In some belief systems they are seen as a sign of coming war or devastation.
Despite their negative connotations rat kings have been used in some positive ways. In the 16th century a rat king was used as a mascot by a group of German soldiers. The soldiers believed that the rat king brought them good luck in battle.
Today rat kings are mostly seen as curiosities. They are often put on display in museums or sold to private collectors.
What is rat king:
What is a rat king?
Answer: A rat king is a group of rats whose tails are intertwined and knotted together.
How does a rat king form?
Answer: Most rat kings form when young rats become entangled while crawling over each other in a confined space.
Where do rat kings typically live?
Answer: Rat kings typically live in sewers cellars and other dark damp places.
How many rats are in a rat king?
Answer: The number of rats in a rat king can vary but typically ranges from six to twenty.
Are rat kings dangerous?
Answer: Rat kings are not dangerous to humans but they can be a nuisance if they invade homes or businesses.
How do you get rid of a rat king?
Answer: The best way to get rid of a rat king is to trap and remove the individual rats.
Do rat kings occur in nature?
Answer: Rat kings are not known to occur in nature but there have been several documented cases of rat kings.
How long do rat kings live?
Answer: Rat kings can live for several years but most only live for a few months.
What do rat kings eat?
Answer: Rat kings typically eat the same things as individual rats including garbage and other food scraps.
Do rat kings reproduce?
Answer: Rat kings do not reproduce as they are usually composed of male rats.
What is the largest rat king on record?
Answer: The largest rat king on record was composed of 32 rats and was found in Germany in 1828.
What is the smallest rat king on record?
Answer: The smallest rat king on record was composed of six rats and was found in the United States in 1892.
Are there any known cases of rat kings in the United Kingdom?
Answer: There have been no known cases of rat kings in the United Kingdom.
Are there any known cases of rat kings in Australia?
Answer: There have been no known cases of rat kings in Australia.
What is the scientific name for a rat king?
Answer: The scientific name for a rat king is Rattus rattus.
