Rats

sniff, scurry; friend, foe?

cunning, crafty stowaway

you are everywhere.

Rats are hugely misunderstood. I was reminded this when I read a piece recently in The New Yorker, originally published back in 1944. They are implicates in carrying diseases of various kinds, they infest cities causing many problems; they lurk in the dark, and are almost impossible to eradicate. They have travelled around the world in the holds of boats, invaded islands and destroying populations of native species. They are everywhere; some species of rats are truly cosmopolitan.

But they are also highly intelligent, and have been used in scientific research which has in turn supported significant medical breakthroughs. I think they are beautiful too. I had pet rats when I was a kid – I remember fondly Ralph, and Ralph II. They were wonderful friends, and I sure cried when they developed tumours and died. Like to many species in the world, sometimes a bit of knowledge helps us understand things better, and allows us to be more nuanced in opinions. So, why not grab a sketchbook* and draw some images of rats, snakes, spiders, or sharks. Appreciation can grow from art, I find.

*the illustrations above were done in a Moleskine sketchbook from reference photos, and with a technical pen or brush pen and the shading was done with a water brush (filled with water and just a few drops of ink).