Not a Sky Rat

[NannyFerret]

But he was cute. (Well I liked him anyway)   

 

[Paul]

Most people despise them - but for all that they are I believe one of cleaner rodents. Certainly domesticated rats are "unsmelly" unlike mice and hamsters.

 

Does fine for me this one.

 

Paul

[NannyFerret]

Thanks, Paul.

It's a shame that they carry diseases, isn't it? Apart from that they are just another species that wants to be left alone to go about their dat to day life..
I used to have pet rats and they were fantastic little creatures. 

[FUJI]

A good shot Nanny.......but, I can have no love for rats at all........we live in an 1875 built house with only earth under our wood- floored downstairs living rooms......for three years we and the local council pest control officer fought a long battle to rid us of a whole colony........Rats ain't fun, when un discoverable ones lay dead and stinking for weeks underneath the floorboards......even industrial strength air fresheners couldn't hide the horrendous unhealthy pong of rotting rats........the maggots and flies were something to behold.

Since then we have fitted anti rat electronics that emit sporadic signals that rodents hate.......so if you plan to visit us fir that cuppa one day......please don't bring a ferret or, ensure he us wearing ear defenders.

It is at this time of year that we need to keep special watch, because it the time they like to find a warm billet.

Give me spiders and pigeons any day.

FUJI

[annie]

wow nanny, how did you get so close to a rat to get such a good picture. i have only ever seen one or two and they have been moving so fast.

[NannyFerret]

I can understand how you feel, Fuji. As much as I love animals, in your position I would have to do something to protect ourselves and my animals as I know wild rats carry leptospirosis amongst other diseases.,which is a killer disease. (pet rats are very clean loving animals)

My nephews friend, who worked in a  laboratory died because he somehow managed to get rats wee on his sandwich.  
I hate testing on any animals anyway, but it just goes to show.

It's not even the rats fault, it's the people who brought them into the country on the boats hundreds of years ago, and the rats carried the diseases from those other countries, so it was man's fault in the first place.

 

I only have two ferrets now Fuji, but I wouldn't take them anywhere where they would be put at risk from dogs, rats or any disease. ( not meaning your house obviously just the outside,) but many dogs walk the park and there was an outbreak of Canine Distemper a couple of months ago, so I don't take chances as this is a killer to ferrets as well.

I lost my little Star last Friday due to a very bad heart murmur. I took her to the vet who had been treating her for a bad gum infection and they weren't hopeful for her recovery, but I insisted on trying for another couple of weeks with the meds and hand feeding, but had to make the horrible decision to let her go last Friday..

 

 

Annie! I only had my little Olympus compact with me at the time and only got the one shots so I was surprised that it came out so well.
Just a bit of editing to bring the detail out.

We were just walking up the lane from the caravan when I spotted him.