Large Gambian Rats Worry Fla. Officials

[spinbaby]

The Florida Keys, already dealing with invasive exotics from melaleuca to iguanas, have added another to the list of unwanted newcomers: the African Gambian pouch rat.

(snip)

Although it is unclear how or why the rat — which can grow as big as a raccoon — was released on Grassy Key, biologists are saying the animal could be devastating to the Florida Keys' ecological system.

(snip)

"There's no telling what would happen if they made it to the mainland," biologist Randy Grau said.

(snip)

Neil Perry, who is writing a thesis for his Texas A&M master's degree while studying in the Keys, said the rats are probably too big for birds of prey to eat.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=624&e=8&u=/ap/gambian_rats

[fob]

1. It's the bushian* rats in Tallahassee that are the REAL problem,

those suckers get the size of a kangaroo!

[Benhurst]

5. LOL! Maybe it's time to cut Florida loose and

let it float out into the Gulf.

[AndrewJacksonFaction]

11. Great!! That will get us away from Jesusland. Maybe

we will turn this state back to BLUE.

[yellowcanine]

6. Right. A couple were handing out water for political gain after the

hurricanes.

[Lorien]

2. Big

but I would hardly call them raccoon sized



from what I've seen on the net, they've become popular pets. It was probably a pair of released pets that caused this problem. I hope they can be trapped before they cause real harm.

[ernstbass]

7. It bears a strong resemblance to Katherine Harris!

[bumblebee1]

13. Kathleen Harris?

Why would insult the rats by calling them names like Bushes and Kathleen Harris? Rats are very intelligent creatures. I've got three as pets.

[Jamastiene]

15. I second that.

Please don't insult rats that way. They have far more intellect, good looks, and charm than that miserable excuse on 2 legs.

[AngryAmish]

3. Exterminate them all

[kywstbeach]

4. Old news!

Gambian rats were found here 5 years ago durung transport of rare spiders They were bad then, but now you never see them. And, they are on the mainland. You can buy them in Miami!

[skippythwndrdog]

8. .22 rounds would be effective. eom

[LibertyLover]

9. Gambian rats can be usefully

I actually read an article several weeks ago about Gambian rats being trained to sniff out land mines in Africa. The article mentioned that rats were ideal because of their excellent sense of smell, ability to work with many different handlers and their light weight didn't set off the mines.

Perhaps Florida could develop a Gambian rat training center and supply trained land mine sniffing rats to countries that have land mines that need to be cleared. Heck - have a church set it up and they could get a faith-based grant from the * administration.

[AndyTiedye]

12. Land Mines Are A Big Problem After The Tsunami

Sri Lanka has land mines as a result of its civil war.

The waves moved them all around, and nobody knows quite where
they are now.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11797096%255E1702,00.html

Maybe the rats can help.

[Algorem]

10. i hope they eat bushes

[aikido15]

14. Let's hope Jebby boy looks like a....

porkchop to them...ummmm ummmmm!