All articles tagged with #rats
A 16-week study in adult male rats shows daily exposure to the government-safe glyphosate dose (2 mg/kg) alters gut bacteria—reducing Lactobacillus—and elevates anxiety-like behavior, including avoidance of open spaces and novel objects, with increased activity in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis; findings suggest regulatory safety limits on glyphosate may underestimate neurobehavioral risks.
A House Digest article republished by AOL ranking 12 U.S. cities with the highest rat activity based on Yelp’s Infestation Index, linking warmer weather and dense urban areas to more rodents. Los Angeles tops the list, followed by San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, and others including Washington, D.C., Seattle, Dallas, Austin, Phoenix, Boston, Portland, and Philadelphia, with residents facing home damage and health risks from rodent-borne diseases like salmonellosis, hantavirus, and leptospirosis.
Berkeley public health officials warn of leptospirosis after dogs and rats tested positive at the Harrison Street encampment, prompting a recommended 1/3-mile red zone buffer and urging residents to relocate and disinfect belongings. Cleanup and rodent control are planned but hampered by an ongoing injunction related to clearing the encampment, with no confirmed human cases yet. Guidance issued for pet vaccination and protective measures to prevent exposure near Codornices Creek and surrounding areas.
Berkeley health officials warned after animals at a Harrison Street homeless encampment tested positive for leptospirosis, a bacterial disease spread by rats and capable of affecting dogs and humans. Residents are urged to relocate at least a third of a mile away due to ongoing rat infestations and transmission risk; dog and free-roaming cat owners are advised to vaccinate pets. Precautions include avoiding water in Codornices Creek and nearby standing water. Authorities are investigating the outbreak; cleanup and ongoing rodent control are expected to take about 30 days, but a federal injunction prevents full encampment clearance at Harrison Street as investigators work to curb spread to the surrounding area.
Berkeley health officials warn of a leptospirosis outbreak linked to the Northwest Berkeley encampment near Eighth and Harrison, with two infected dogs detected last November and rats testing positive in Alameda County for the first time in five years; officials say the outbreak could persist until the camp is fully vacated for about 30 days to eradicate rat burrows, and have urged caution around standing water while offering dog vaccine vouchers as legal challenges over encampment removals continue.
Berkeley health officials warned that leptospirosis, a treatable but potentially deadly rat-borne disease, has been detected in and around a homeless encampment near Harrison Street, with numerous rats and at least two dogs testing positive in 2025. An alert urges encampment residents to leave a red zone bounded by San Pablo Avenue, Gilman Street, Codornices Creek and the railroad tracks, and the city plans to clear encampments and disinfect the area. The disease spreads via infected animal urine and can cause flu-like symptoms 2–30 days after exposure, potentially leading to kidney or liver failure or meningitis if untreated. UC Berkeley also urged residents to take standard precautions like good hygiene and keeping pets away from areas with rodent activity.
Research from Washington State University shows that rats with higher baseline stress hormone levels are more likely to self-administer cannabis, suggesting that long-term stress biology may influence cannabis-seeking behavior, similar to patterns observed in humans.
A rat study shows that not only do individual genes influence gut bacteria, but social contact with genetically different rats can also shape one's microbiome, suggesting that genetics and social interactions jointly affect gut bacteria and potentially human health.
Washington state officials warn residents about rats potentially entering homes through toilets due to recent severe flooding, advising calm and specific steps to handle encounters, as floods have caused widespread damage and increased rodent intrusion risks.
Heavy rains in Western Washington have led to an increase in rats entering homes through toilets, prompting public health advice to keep toilet lids down and use traps if necessary. Incidents are linked to aging sewer systems and combined sewer overflows during storms, which can allow rats to access residential plumbing. Residents are advised to remain cautious and follow safety tips to handle such situations.
Health officials warn residents in King County, Washington, about the possibility of rats appearing in toilets after recent heavy rains and flooding, and provide tips for safely removing them or contacting pest control if needed.
Researchers found that oxytocin in the orbitofrontal cortex promotes reciprocity and empathy in rats, reducing free-riding and stabilizing cooperative behavior through internal motivation rather than external enforcement.
A study from Japan found that in rats, the ratio of the second to fourth finger (2D:4D) can predict sexual activity and preference, suggesting a link between prenatal hormone exposure and adult sexual traits, with potential implications for understanding human behavior.
A six-year study by Tufts University found that rats in Boston carry the bacteria responsible for leptospirosis, a potentially deadly disease that could become more prevalent with climate change, posing risks to humans and animals.
A long-term study on Sprague–Dawley rats found that exposure to glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides at levels similar to EU safety limits increased the incidence of multiple benign and malignant tumors, including leukemia, skin, liver, thyroid, and nerve tumors, supporting the classification of glyphosate as a probable carcinogen based on experimental evidence.