Join host Linden Kemkaran as she speaks to Professor Steve Belmain, an expert in ecology at the Natural Resources Institute, and part of the Agriculture, Health and Environment Department at the University of Greenwich.

Steve discusses whether rats really are too clever to control and why he thinks it’s unwise to anthropomorphise rodents and give them human characteristics. 
 
 

By examining some of the myths and fears associated with rats, Steve explains why it is sensible to fear them, but also why we should respect and praise them for their usefulness. 

Certain rodents possess behaviours and characteristics which are incredibly valuable to humans in terms of bomb and illness detection.

Steve suggests that some rats are so useful and trainable that we could see them being deployed instead of sniffer dogs at airports and ports very soon.

 Fun Fact: Rats are incapable of vomiting and they also suffer from ‘neophobia’ – the fear of new things. Why is it important to understand facts like this in order to control them? Listen and find out …!