Making peace with Rat
My first memory of a rat or rats was when I opened a friend’s back door and two rats were running past and having a fight on their way. I was about 4 years old.
Not sure what it was but I didn’t like it. Was it their speed? Was it their look?Was it that they were fighting? I read somewhere that it is the tail of the rat to which we are reacting. It reminds us of snakes and our ancestors were indeed wary of them.
There may be a truth in this as for years we kept hamsters as they had no tail.
Then there is of course the reinforced stereotype of them in horror films and the odd urban myth.
Yet as I walk more and see more wildlife the rat also appears. As I salute the families of Swans, Moorhens, Mallards, Canadian Geese, Grey Squirrel, Blackbirds and Crows what do I say to the Rat family? They have as much right to be here as the rest of us and they seem to coexist well with the others so why shouldn’t I salute Rat?
Well still a bit apprehensive I did. Here on my midday stroll was rat trying to fetch food from a litter bin near the lake. I watched and then said, “ Mr Rat you are not suppose to be out and about at this time so be on your way I want to pass.” He seemed to be a bit dazed but it did return to his hole beside the water.
I thought to myself, “ G you gotta get used to the fact that the creature has as much right to live as you.”
Best day,
g
