Rattus norvegicus - Brown Rat

Quite possibly this is the vilest and most despised creature on this earth. There is nothing as disappointing as seeing one of these, trot across your living room. There is nothing quite as blood boiling as being woken by a tickle on your cheek, to find BIG MOMMA staring you in the face. Returning home after a holiday, with a couple of weeks of washing, to discover that the wiring of your washing machine has been rearranged as nesting material comes a close second.

I spent weeks, blocking holes and guarding them, only to discover that they were getting in through the toilet bowl and then dragging their feet and leaving a trail of rat piss around my kitchen. I put a bucket of water on top of the toilet bowl and they STILL got in. The rat chewed a hole, the water drained and the bucket was found the next day by the side of the toilet. I found the hole when I next used the bucket.

My HATE for this creature is way beyond words. Anyone who buys a catch and release trap, has never really had a rat problem, and will receive a contemptible verbal lashing from myself. This is one creature that the world does not need. Yes, it has adapted to man’s slovenly behaviour. But, even if we smarten up out act, this thing is not going away any time soon.

Location is Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Streets.