It is not true that wild rats pose little or no problem to small birds. I keep aviary birds myself, in addition to many other animals, and over the years I have lost quite a number of birds to wild rats, including lovebirds, pigeons and even a hen Golden Pheasant. I should say I don't detest rats per se (I've kept many domestic or exotic species of rat over the years) but they should not be tolerated in aviaries.
Rat Survey- UK Zoos
- Thread starter Pertinax
- Start date
That's why I was surprised to see them obviously established in several Bird Aviaries at Colchester- it was also why I opened this thread.
Rat Survey
And comparatively few birds. Your average Colchester Zoo inhabitant is more likely to eat a rat than vice versa. However, I would suggest the rats are a disease risk to animals & visitors alike. When I worked for MAFF many years ago, it was said that on average one fish farm worker a year dies of Weil's Disease, undiagnosed; apparently it's easy enough to treat, people don't [or didn't] recognise the symptoms. And you get it from rats' urine in water.
And comparatively few birds. Your average Colchester Zoo inhabitant is more likely to eat a rat than vice versa. However, I would suggest the rats are a disease risk to animals & visitors alike. When I worked for MAFF many years ago, it was said that on average one fish farm worker a year dies of Weil's Disease, undiagnosed; apparently it's easy enough to treat, people don't [or didn't] recognise the symptoms. And you get it from rats' urine in water.
I nearly lost a dog to that some years ago- she was bitten by a rat while I was away abroad and someone else was looking after her. When I returned I knew at once she was sick. The vet saved her but said it was touch and go.
Colchester's bird collection consists mainly of large or fairly large birds such as owls and birds-of-prey (which would of course help to control the rats), cranes, flamingos and ostriches. Unusually it doesn't have many small birds. (I've always thought it peculiar that it doesn't have more ducks because the twin lakes would offer a perfect habitat for them. The problem with rats invading aviaries, of course, is that it can be difficult to set bait or traps that only the rats, and not the birds, can access. That said, Colchester really should do something about its rat problem.
I have seen both rats and mice regularly over the years at Chester.
In fact back in the early 90's, the biggest rat I have ever seen popped out of the man hole in the old brown bear pit, wandered over to the food pile, took a complete apple in its mouth and returned to the man hole. A little girl next to me said to her mum, "look, there's a mouse over there..." some mouse.
Many years later I was loitering at the corner of Asian Plains, by the monkey kiosk and a rat popped out of the hedge, had a look and went back in. This corresponds with the observation earlier in this thread.I haven't seen any more in the zoo for a number of years now though.
Mice used to be very common in the old monkey house and in the aviaries by the old otter enclosure, again, I haven't spotted any lately.
I have no sympathy at all for rats, absolutely best get rid. Borrow a Jack Russell?
(my first post on this excellent forum after lurking for a while.. what a subject for starters..)
In fact back in the early 90's, the biggest rat I have ever seen popped out of the man hole in the old brown bear pit, wandered over to the food pile, took a complete apple in its mouth and returned to the man hole. A little girl next to me said to her mum, "look, there's a mouse over there..." some mouse.
Many years later I was loitering at the corner of Asian Plains, by the monkey kiosk and a rat popped out of the hedge, had a look and went back in. This corresponds with the observation earlier in this thread.I haven't seen any more in the zoo for a number of years now though.
Mice used to be very common in the old monkey house and in the aviaries by the old otter enclosure, again, I haven't spotted any lately.
I have no sympathy at all for rats, absolutely best get rid. Borrow a Jack Russell?
(my first post on this excellent forum after lurking for a while.. what a subject for starters..)
Jordan-Jaguar97
Well-Known Member
I Have seen the odd one at Blackpool and South Lakes.
I am sure all/most Zoos have a small resident populatation of Rats- usually invisible- as they are excellent sites for them to live in- plenty of food sources and many areas where poison bait cannot be put down-though also some unexpected dangers in the form of predatory species too, which may help to act as a control.
However, when you see them running about in broad daylight that usually means they are at 'infestation' level and something needs to be done to control them.
However, when you see them running about in broad daylight that usually means they are at 'infestation' level and something needs to be done to control them.
Paix
Well-Known Member
I have also seen a large rat around this area (under the tables, beside the kiosk), gave the visitors sitting at the tables quite a fright.
Rats tend to be in most UK zoos by the very nature of food and water being available for the various animals displayed.
When I worked at Blackpool Zoo many years ago I observed a rat that regularly fed in the marmot enclosure. It used to sit next to the marmots as they fed!
At one zoo I managed we did have a rat problem particularly in the Bird Garden area not helped by wooden slat covered buildings and ivy growing up cage supports; these where are removed as these where being used by the rats as shelters and hiding areas. The bird feeding in many cases was presented on elevated stands which where made climb-proof for the rats. The situation could be controlled but I doubt if you could ever removed a rat problem completely.
Interestingly, I did screen some some of the rat faeces from the area and they came back negative for generally diseases such as salmonella.
As for cats. Well we certainly didn't have problems of huge numbers of feral animals most where pets that occasionally came on site; some where actually keepers pets who lived on site.
As for killing these animals I suspect that aside from the very bad PR that would be generated if we had killed any pet cats I also consider that such action in the UK could bring the likelihood of prosecution under the 2006 Animal Welfare Act.
NB: I have actually known in the past of some rural zoos to have a couple of cats on site as part of a rodent control measure.
When I worked at Blackpool Zoo many years ago I observed a rat that regularly fed in the marmot enclosure. It used to sit next to the marmots as they fed!
At one zoo I managed we did have a rat problem particularly in the Bird Garden area not helped by wooden slat covered buildings and ivy growing up cage supports; these where are removed as these where being used by the rats as shelters and hiding areas. The bird feeding in many cases was presented on elevated stands which where made climb-proof for the rats. The situation could be controlled but I doubt if you could ever removed a rat problem completely.
Interestingly, I did screen some some of the rat faeces from the area and they came back negative for generally diseases such as salmonella.
As for cats. Well we certainly didn't have problems of huge numbers of feral animals most where pets that occasionally came on site; some where actually keepers pets who lived on site.
As for killing these animals I suspect that aside from the very bad PR that would be generated if we had killed any pet cats I also consider that such action in the UK could bring the likelihood of prosecution under the 2006 Animal Welfare Act.
NB: I have actually known in the past of some rural zoos to have a couple of cats on site as part of a rodent control measure.
Interesting comments about cats. I remember reading in an early Gerald Durrell book mentions of the zoo cat, patrolling Jersey Zoo with the responsibility of keeping rodents down. I doubt many zoos with any pretensions to scientific management would tolerate that today.
Here in Australia it would be a big no-no, as cats are carriers of toxoplasmosis, which is fatal to most Australian marsupials. By law in Australia, cats are required to be confined to peoples property in the same way dogs are. We don't seem to have a problem with cats, but if we did we would probably trap them and turn them over to the local pound. However I doubt there would be much of an outcry if we were to shoot them.
Rats we strategically bait to keep at at sub-visible level as far as visitors go, and construct enclosures to exclude them when the inhabitants might be in danger from them.
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RowanGreen
Well-Known Member
Here's a link for you:
Toxoplasmosis in cats and man
Basically even an infected cat is rarely capable of infecting other animals, and then only through poo over a day old. It's pretty easy to see ways of making sure cat poo over a day old is not present in cages of suseptible animals.
In Australia, where there's wildlife that's vulnerable outside the cages, I guess it's reasonable to have a no cats policy (though I'd be glad to see animals which are possibly lost through no fault of the owner given a chance of re-finding them rather than being shot straight away... so glad to hear a recent comment!) But I don't think it's too difficult for zoos in other countries to have cats around without endangering their stock. Even in Australia I guess there might be times when a healthy and well supervised cat might be an asset?
London Zoo has at least one cat: I've met him. He's called Heathclift and can sometimes be found greeting visitors along the road on the way to the main entrance (though he ducks behind the railings when school groups come past). He apparently lives in keepers housing, I don't know if he spends much time in the actual zoo, but certainly could if he wanted to.
Toxoplasmosis in cats and man
Basically even an infected cat is rarely capable of infecting other animals, and then only through poo over a day old. It's pretty easy to see ways of making sure cat poo over a day old is not present in cages of suseptible animals.
In Australia, where there's wildlife that's vulnerable outside the cages, I guess it's reasonable to have a no cats policy (though I'd be glad to see animals which are possibly lost through no fault of the owner given a chance of re-finding them rather than being shot straight away... so glad to hear a recent comment!) But I don't think it's too difficult for zoos in other countries to have cats around without endangering their stock. Even in Australia I guess there might be times when a healthy and well supervised cat might be an asset?
London Zoo has at least one cat: I've met him. He's called Heathclift and can sometimes be found greeting visitors along the road on the way to the main entrance (though he ducks behind the railings when school groups come past). He apparently lives in keepers housing, I don't know if he spends much time in the actual zoo, but certainly could if he wanted to.
Johnny Morris.
Well-Known Member
Here's a link for you:
Toxoplasmosis in cats and man
Basically even an infected cat is rarely capable of infecting other animals, and then only through poo over a day old. It's pretty easy to see ways of making sure cat poo over a day old is not present in cages of suseptible animals.
In Australia, where there's wildlife that's vulnerable outside the cages, I guess it's reasonable to have a no cats policy (though I'd be glad to see animals which are possibly lost through no fault of the owner given a chance of re-finding them rather than being shot straight away... so glad to hear a recent comment!) But I don't think it's too difficult for zoos in other countries to have cats around without endangering their stock. Even in Australia I guess there might be times when a healthy and well supervised cat might be an asset?
London Zoo has at least one cat: I've met him. He's called Heathclift and can sometimes be found greeting visitors along the road on the way to the main entrance (though he ducks behind the railings when school groups come past). He apparently lives in keepers housing, I don't know if he spends much time in the actual zoo, but certainly could if he wanted to.
I sawa beautiful looking cat walking around Howletts last week.
Here is a link for you:
http://www.wildlifehealth.org.au/AW... of Australian Wildlife 23 Mar 2009 (1.0).pdf
Our animals are kept within large, well vegetated enclosures or free-range within our exclosure. Keeping track of the animals is difficult enough let alone tracking down cat poo.
Well I don't own a gun, so it is not really an option.
Actually it is not so much the cats I have a problem with but cat owners. I've kept cats myself in the past and enjoyed their company. However sending a cat to the pound is pretty much a death sentance anyway as few cat owners (or at least the ones that let their cats roam) would be willing to pay the fine to retrieve their cats.
I'm surprised at the reports of cats in zoos in this thread, but then I guess there are not many marsupials to worry about in British zoos.
volvox
Well-Known Member
I am very intrigued to hear how Australians confine their cats to their own properties. Does every cat owner have 10ft fences encircling their entire house and garden? Or are all cats indoor cats, poor things? In the UK I believe laws are very different regarding cats and dogs because it is acknowledged that, unlike dogs, you can't control where cats roam.
By the way, London Zoo's cat is called Heathcliff not Heathclift; whether he was named after the cartoon cat or the Wuthering Heights character I don't know. He's not really supposed to go into the zoo itself but, you know cats...
By the way, London Zoo's cat is called Heathcliff not Heathclift; whether he was named after the cartoon cat or the Wuthering Heights character I don't know. He's not really supposed to go into the zoo itself but, you know cats...
RowanGreen
Well-Known Member
I'm pretty sure it was Heathclift on his tag... I thought it was strange spelling