Cat Size Rats in Florida Keys

Rats Bigger Than Cats Living in Florida Keys - as part of the news and politics series by GeoBeats. For most people, rodents are either cute-little creatures they keep as pets or a minor nuisance they might occasionally spot in their home. For some residents of Florida Keys' they are a bigger problem - literally. Giant Gambian rats that can be bigger than cats have made Grassy Key their home. According to NBC Miami, a local breeder let them escape 10 years ago. Authorities have been trying to rid the this area of the huge rodents ever since! It was believed all the rats had been caught in 2009, until a resident alerted officials that there were more running around in 2011. The Gambian rats are a sub-Saharan African species usually living in thickets or termite mounds. They have poor vision but a strong sense of smell and have been used to detect land mines. They can grow up to 9 pounds, bigger than an average newborn baby! Additionally, they can be as long as 3 feet. Back in Florida Keys', there is a concern if these are not contained and spread to other areas, they can damage crops and upset the natural local ecosystem.

Comments

1. I fricken luvvvv huge Ratanimals!!!!!
2. Sorry for saying that... they are so cute...I would love to have one us a pet...
3. Ahi donde el humano mete mano , echa a perder todo, los ecosistemas se van al traste por la idea de algun pendejin de tener de mascotas a animales que no cuidan y se terminan escapando y reproduciendose, pobres animales.
4. But they're so cute!
5. I love them. I would get one, and name it Big Ben (Willard reference, anyone?)
6. People in African countries use them to detect tuberculosis and landmines.
7. yeah they'll ruin the Eco system, not the one ton bomb of snakes you have down there.
8. Their going to eat up all the bananas.
9. Aw, I want one. I have many pet rats, my largest is about 21'' from nose to tail-tip.
10. So cute! I want a pair.
11. this is a kangaroo
12. We allowed this crap to happen, and like with Snakes some people buy and keep as "Pets" then find they are too much trouble. expense, etc,,they turn them loose. We need to put a STOP to "Exotic" Non-indigenous Species coming into OUR country unless we want to live in fear for our lives one day. This needs to STOP.
13. I want one..
14. i want to move to florida now. rats are my favorite animal, especially the wild ones
15. X3 OMG SO ADORABLE THE FIRST LIKE I SECOND HAMSTER OR RAT VIDEO
16. Trap & train them as sniffer dogs to be used at airports & customs. They have a very strong sense to smell.
17. This is worng rats can't get that big as a cat it would be bigger then a dog standing that's what's it's saying and they can't get that big at all I have them I think I know
18. I can't fight rat anymore
19. I want one
20. Awe❤️ one of my male rats is the size of a kitten, not a new born either lol! He's massive. I would love one of these babes