Rats have been getting a bad rap lately. With the rise in popularity of games like “Ratatouille” and “Ratchet & Clank,” these rodents are beginning to see their image improve. But there’s one area where rats still have negative associations: their supposed taste for blood. Do rats get a taste for blood, or is this just another urban legend? Let’s take a closer look.
Do Rats Get a Taste for Blood?
The answer to this question is a bit complicated.
On the one hand, rats are attracted to the scent of blood and frequently gnaw on open wounds to get at the delicious iron-rich fluid.
On the other hand, there is no evidence that rats develop a taste for blood and will eventually stop gnawing even if the wound is still bleeding. So what’s going on here?
Rats are likely attracted to the scent of blood because it indicates the presence of food.
After all, blood is an excellent source of nutrients, and rats are always on the lookout for new sources of food.
However, they quickly realize that blood isn’t edible once they start gnawing. At that point, they usually give up and move on to something else.
So while rats may be initially drawn to the scent of blood, they don’t develop a taste for it.
Rats and Blood: The Myths and the Facts
There are two central myths about rats and blood.
The first is that rats will only drink blood if they’re ill.
The second is that once a rat has tasted blood, it will always crave it. Unfortunately, both of these myths are false.
Rats will only drink blood if they’re ill because they need the extra nutrients to help them recover.
Once they’re well, they’ll return to their regular water and food diet. As for the second myth, it’s simply not true that rats get a taste for blood and can never return. If anything, the opposite is true.
Rats are pretty squeamish about blood and usually avoid it if given a choice.
So why do people think that rats get a taste for blood?
It’s likely because of the behavior of some species of bats, which drink blood regularly. Bats are often lumped together with rodents, so it’s easy to see how the misconception could arise.
But rest assured, there’s no truth to the idea that rats get a taste for blood.
Conclusion
Rats have gotten a bad rap over the years, but there are beginning to be changed in public opinion. Unfortunately, one area where rats still have some negative associations is in their supposed taste for blood.
Do rats get a taste for blood? No, they don’t. This is just another urban legend with no basis in reality.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.