The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-11-13
MIGRATION OF RATS.
Marches of Rodents That Have Been
Observed in Various Countries.

observed IN various countries.
In nearly all countries a seasonal
| movement of rats from houses and
barns to the open fields occurs IN
spring. and the return movement takes
place as cold weather approaches. The
! movement is noticeable even in large
cities
More general movements of rats Of
/, ten occur. In 1903 a multitude or
migrating rats spread over several
counties Of western Illinois. They
were noticed especially in Mercer and
Rock Island counties. For several
years prior to this invasion no abncr-
NAL numbers were seen, and their COM
ing was remarkably sudden. An eye
witness to the phenomenon Informed
the writer that as he was returning to
his home by I1eonlight he heard
general rustling in the field near by,
and soon vast army of rats crossed
the read in front Of him, all going in
one direction. The mass stretched
away as far as could be seen in the
dim light. These animals remained
on the farms and in the villages OF
the surrounding country, and during
the winter and summer of 1904 were
Verltahle plague. A local newspa-
per stated that between March 20 AMI
April 20, 1904, F. L. Montgomery OF
Presumption, Mercer county, killed
most of them in traps.
In 1877 a similar migration occurred
into parts of Saline and Lafayette
counties, Mo-, and in 1904 another
came under the writer's observation
in Kansas River Valley. This val
ley for the most part was flooded by
the great freshet of June, 1903, and
for about ten days was covered with
several feet Of water. 1t is certain
that most of the rats in the valley
persisted in this flood. In the fall OF
1903 much of the district was visited
by hordes of rats, which remained dur
ing the winter, and by the following
spring had so increased in numbers
that serious losses of grain and poul-
try resulted.
No doubt the majority of the So
called migratiors of rodents are in
reality instances of unusual reproduc-
ton or of enforced migration owing to
lack OF food. In England general
movement of rats inland from the
coast occurs every October. This is
closely connected with the closing of
the herring Seasos: During the ISL
attracted by the offal left from clean
ing the herring, and when this food
supply fails they hasten back to the
farms ard villages -; ,.=s--.s
In South America periodic plaques OF
rats have taken place in Parana, Bra
zil, at intervals of about thirty years,
and in Chile at intervals Of from fif-
teen to twenty-five years. These
plaques in the cultivated lands follow
the ripening and decay of the domin-
ant species of bamboo in each country.
Tie ripsning of the seed furnishes for
two or more years fayorite food for !
rats in the forests, where the animals |!
multiply greatly; when this food fails !
they are forced to the cultivated dis |
tricts for subsistence. In 1878 almost I
the entire crops of corn, rice and man.
dicca in the State of arana were des-
troyed by rats, causing serious /
famine -i-~ss.
An invasion of black rats in the Ber-
muda Islands occurred about the year
1915. In space of two years they
had increased so alarmingly that none
of the islands was free from them. The
rodents devoured everything which
came in their way-fruit, plants, and
even trees-so that for two years the
people were destitute of bread. A law
was passed requiring every man in the
islands to set twelve traps. In spite
Of all efforts the animals increased,
until they finally disappeared with d
suddenness which could have resulted
only from a pestilence.-Frcm B!ologt-
cal Survey Bulletin 80.