rodents

High hantavirus levels found in rodents in parts of US — suggesting greater exposure risk: study

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High hantavirus levels found in rodents in parts of US — suggesting greater exposure risk: study

Researchers found unusually high hantavirus levels in rodents in the Pacific Northwest, suggesting greater exposure risk in the surrounding agricultural communities. The area with the biggest prevalence is the Palouse region, which includes parts of eastern Washington and north-central Idaho in the Pacific Northwest. Researchers from Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine found unexpectedly high levels … Read more

Chicago’s infamous ‘rat hole’ likely caused from another critter, researchers say

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Chicago’s infamous ‘rat hole’ likely caused from another critter, researchers say

Ah, rats! Researchers think they have debunked the origin of Chicago’s so-called “rat hole,” one of the Windy City’s weirdest local landmarks. Hold on. The rat hole wasn’t what you think. It wasn’t some back alley bar that served as a speakeasy for the city’s notorious gangster clientele or a tenement stuffed to the brim … Read more

This once extremely rare disease caused by rats is on the rise — and is to blame for a very high-profile death

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This once extremely rare disease caused by rats is on the rise — and is to blame for a very high-profile death

Rats! Health officials are reporting an increase in a rare but serious infectious disease spread by rodents — just four months after Gene Hackman’s wife, the concert pianist Betsy Arakawa, died from it. A Grand Canyon National Park employee was recently exposed to hantavirus, with five cases logged so far this year in Arizona, KLAS-TV … Read more

Woman claims restaurant served her salad with dead rat: ‘Absolutely revolting’

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Woman claims restaurant served her salad with dead rat: ‘Absolutely revolting’

A Sydney restaurant has apologized after a customer posted an online review claiming she found a dead rat in her meal. The woman alleged to have come across the dead animal while eating a katsu don set at Japanese restaurant Tatsuya West Ryde. The customer, who posted a Google review under the name DO, said … Read more

Dead rat, nest and droppings discovered on Gene Hackman’s property after wife died of disease linked to rodents

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Dead rat, nest and droppings discovered on Gene Hackman’s property after wife died of disease linked to rodents

Health officials found extensive evidence of rats on Gene Hackman’s New Mexico property during a hantavirus risk assessment test after the star’s wife was killed by the rodent-linked disease in late February. An environmental assessment of the property conducted in March — just one week after the couple was found dead — revealed rodent feces … Read more

Animal lovers can cuddle with giant rodents at Florida capybara cafe

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Animal lovers can cuddle with giant rodents at Florida capybara cafe

Animal lovers now have a place to hang out with the “it” animals of the moment — big furry rodents. In the back of a real estate office building in what is known as America’s oldest city, capybaras are crawling into visitors’ laps, munching on corn on the cob, and hunting for scratches from humans at The … Read more

What is hantavirus pulmonary syndrome? Gene Hackman’s wife Betsy Arakawa’s cause of death explained

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What is hantavirus pulmonary syndrome? Gene Hackman’s wife Betsy Arakawa’s cause of death explained

Betsy Arakawa — the classical pianist married to Gene Hackman — died last month of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare infectious disease linked to rodents, New Mexico authorities announced Friday. Hantavirus patients can develop flu-like symptoms that quickly progress to breathing difficulties. The condition can significantly damage lung tissue, causing fluid to accumulate in the … Read more

Exclusive | Grilled guinea pigs are this NYC restaurant’s shocking specialty — and the head is the ‘best part’

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Exclusive | Grilled guinea pigs are this NYC restaurant’s shocking specialty — and the head is the ‘best part’

Are you brave enough to try this dish? Maybe when pigs fry. New York City epicures are devouring a “special” Ecuadorian delicacy, guinea pigs — better known stateside as a potential pet for kids — and hailing them as a “very delicious” feast. At least that is the experience at the restaurant La Casa Del … Read more

Spirit plane passengers freak after ‘super rat’ scurries around aircraft: ‘You’re flying Chuck E Cheese Airlines’

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Spirit plane passengers freak after ‘super rat’ scurries around aircraft: ‘You’re flying Chuck E Cheese Airlines’

Forget snakes on a plane — these passengers were panicked by a rodent on an aircraft. Freaked-out fliers spotted what appeared to be a rat running above an overhead bin on a Spirit Airlines flight from Dallas, Texas to Los Angeles, California. A video depicting the furry infiltrator has racked up around two million views … Read more

The 5 most rat-infested cities in America revealed — sorry, New Yorkers

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The 5 most rat-infested cities in America revealed — sorry, New Yorkers

Aw, rats. The Big Apple is the most rodent-riddled city in America, according to new data that will hardly surprise New Yorkers who notice the pests proliferating in parks, playgrounds and subway stations. Pest control company Terminix ranked the 50 most rodent-infested cities based on what locales use their services most often, with New York … Read more

How just one high-intensity workout can lead to weight gain: study

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How just one high-intensity workout can lead to weight gain: study

Here’s your excuse not to work out today. A single session of high-intensity exercise can disturb the body’s main stress hormone, leading to less activity after the workout, a lower body temperature, and weight gain, a new study of mice finds. Researchers at the University of Tsukuba in Japan divided the rodents into three groups: … Read more

Orgasms rewire the brain to create a lasting bond between sex partners: study

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Orgasms rewire the brain to create a lasting bond between sex partners: study

Come again? Orgasms aren’t just for pleasure or procreation. They’re biologically designed to enhance a long-lasting bond between sex partners, a groundbreaking study asserts. Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin used groundbreaking technology to examine the brain activity of prairie voles — small, monogamous rodents — during and after orgasm. The team, led … Read more

Supermarket shopper horrifies fellow customers after arriving at store with pet rats nestled on her shoulders

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Supermarket shopper horrifies fellow customers after arriving at store with pet rats nestled on her shoulders

Australian shoppers have been left horrified after spotting a woman inside a supermarket with pet rats nestled on each of her shoulders. The pet owner was casually waiting in line at the checkout of a Spudshed grocery store in Ellenbrook during peak shopping time on Tuesday. Despite her nonchalant demeanor, onlookers said they were “shocked” … Read more

5 common household items to scare away mice — and keep them away

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5 common household items to scare away mice — and keep them away

No more Mr. Mice Guy. Mice are some of the dirtiest pests that can infest your home — they carry a variety of disease and organisms, which they spread by leaving behind their feces and urine. As the months get colder, mice often try to seek shelter, warmth and food inside homes. They particularly love NYC. The … Read more

Flea-borne typhus deaths are rising in LA: new CDC report

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Flea-borne typhus deaths are rising in LA: new CDC report

Health experts are alarmed at a spike in typhus cases in Los Angeles County, where three recent deaths have been blamed on the disease. The disease is spread by fleas that have come into contact with animals — cats, possums, dogs and rodents — that are carrying the illness. In the 1930s and 1940s, typhus … Read more

Rat soup shuts down NYC’s popular Gammeeok restaurant

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Rat soup shuts down NYC’s popular Gammeeok restaurant

NYC health inspectors shut down popular Koreatown restaurant Gammeeok on Wednesday, shortly after a couple claimed in a lawsuit they found a dead rat in their takeout soup. Inspectors reported finding rat droppings, food not being held at the correct temperature, and no trained supervisor on site, among other alleged violations. “The Department of Health … Read more

NYC couple claims they found a dead rat floating in their soup

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NYC couple claims they found a dead rat floating in their soup

An NYC couple claims they found a dead rodent in soup they ordered from a popular Koreatown restaurant over the weekend, but the eatery is dismissing that allegation as “nonsense.” Eunice Lucero-Lee posted a series of photos and videos of what appears to be a dead black rat floating in the soup she said she … Read more

NYC rats carry COVID-19: ‘Could pose a risk to humans,’ new study says

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NYC rats carry COVID-19: ‘Could pose a risk to humans,’ new study says

Maybe the rats do run this city. New York City rodents can carry the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 – and researchers fear it could be transmitted to humans, according to a new study. The new research, published Thursday in the American Society for Microbiology “mBio,” determined that the rats could be infected with the Alpha, … Read more

9-year-old San Diego Zoo Pacific pocket mouse vying for Guinness World Record

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9-year-old San Diego Zoo Pacific pocket mouse vying for Guinness World Record

This would be a very mice “Pat” on the back. The San Diego Zoo said a Pacific pocket mouse born there nearly a decade ago is the world’s oldest living mouse in human care. Zoo officials are calling for recognition for Pat, who is 9 years and 5 months old, from Guinness World Records, according … Read more