Scientists have long used rats and mice to study not only the world around us but also ourselves. Despite extensive research, there’s still much we don’t understand about how these creatures think and learn. What we do know is that rodents are smarter than most people give them credit for, and underestimating them can lead to disaster. Let’s explore what makes mice and rats such formidable opponents in the game of pest control.
Remarkable Rats
Rats are notorious for their intelligence. In captivity, they’ve been taught to solve puzzles, perform tricks, and even drive tiny cars. In the wild, rats utilize their impressive brains to evade traps, outsmart predators, and access your stored foods.
Problem-Solving Skills
The same abilities that allow rats to navigate mazes and learn tricks make them exceptionally good at figuring out how to get into food storage containers, birdseed, and anything else they set their sights on.
Neophobia
Rats are often described as “neophobic,” meaning they’re hesitant to interact with new objects or try unfamiliar foods. While this fear of the unfamiliar might seem counterintuitive, it actually makes rats difficult to trap. It can take weeks or even months for rats to interact with an unfamiliar object like a bait box. During this time, they continue to reproduce, worsening the infestation.
Delayed Learning
“Delayed learning” is a mechanism that makes rats challenging to poison. Instead of diving head-first into a new food source, rats will eat a small portion to see if it makes them sick. This cautious approach allows them to avoid consuming enough poison to kill them immediately and can lead to developing immunities or resistance to rodenticides.
Learning from Others’ Mistakes
Rats can learn by observing each other. If they witness another rat fall victim to a trap, they’ll studiously avoid it to ensure they don’t suffer the same fate.
Mastermind Mice
While mice may not be quite as intelligent as rats, it would be unwise to underestimate them. There’s a reason we’ve been unable to rid ourselves of them despite thousands of years of trying.
Mice Are Becoming Smarter
Recent studies have shown that living alongside humans has increased mice’s ability to problem-solve. The longer a mouse species has lived around humans, the better they are at solving puzzles like opening lids, removing balls of paper from tubes, or accessing treats inside toy houses. As we develop new ways to protect our food and belongings, mice find new ways around them.
They Know Our Scent
Mice have an excellent sense of smell and can tell when a human has recently handled a trap. Associating the scent of humans with danger, they may avoid traps altogether.
Learning Through Exploration
That mouse hiding in your wall might have a surprisingly scientific mind. A study from Johns Hopkins University found that what scientists previously dismissed as “errors” when training mice might actually be strategic thinking. Mice can devise and test simple hypotheses when their expectations aren’t met—for example, when they perform a task but don’t receive the expected reward. This allows them to innovate and find new ways to access food when previous methods fail.
Outsmart Mice and Rats with Cutting-Edge Technology
As intelligent as rodents are, they’re no match for Modern Pest Services! Our SMART rodent control technology is the first of its kind—an innovative, eco-friendly, hands-off solution that operates 24/7. Using motion detection and cellular technology, SMART monitors for rodent activity around the clock. If activity is detected, your SMART system alerts Modern Pest headquarters, and we dispatch a professional to address the issue promptly.