Animal Rescuers and Firefighters Aid One of Germany's Brown Sewer Rats

Summary: A female half in and out a manhole in Bensheim, German, Feb. 2, 2019, ambled back to fellow brown sewer rats thanks to animal rescuers and firefighters.

A female brown sewer rat (Rattus norvegicus, "Norway rat"), stuck in a sewer manhole cover, squeaks for rescue in Bensheim, central-west Germany: Berufstierrettung Rhein Neckar @TierrettungRheinNeckar, via Facebook Feb. 24, 2019

Animal rescuers, backup local volunteer firefighters and two young girls achieved the safe release of one of Bensheim's brown sewer rats from a heavy drain cover in central-west Germany Feb. 24, 2019.

A "lot of winter flab" barred a female brown sewer rat from breaking through a Bensheim manhole cover because of "wide hips" bigger than grate openings. Michael Sehr and Andreas Steinbach, Beruftstierrettung Rhein Neckar nonprofit group animal rescuers, conducted the 30-minute release 50 miles (80.47 kilometers) south of Frankfurt with eight firefighters. The squeaking brown sewer rat desisted from kicking and wriggling after firefighters drew an adjustable loop at the end of a pole around her upper body.

A crowbar-like tool enabled firefighters to elevate the metal cover onto black blocks and extricate the female brown sewer rat by efforts against her lower body.

One of the two girls who found the female brown sewer rat furnished animal rescuers with a drawing that featured hearts and the word Danke (Thanks).

Sehr generalizes that "We don't make any difference between animals. We don't kill animals, we serve them. Even animals that are hated by many deserve respect." The female brown sewer rat hurried away after backward looks at Steinbach, "as if to say thanks, and yes, I need to go on a diet." Brown sewer rats, identified as Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat), initiates one- to three-year life cycles in one of two to 12 six- to 22-pup yearly litters.

Physically and sexually mature 90-day-old brown sewer rats, such as the Bensheim female, juggle six-hour heat before three-week gestations of 800 maximum births during year-round mating.

Brown sewer rats, such as the Bensheim female, know blind, deaf, pink-skinned helplessness as newborns; soft fur as 10-day-olds; sight as 14-day-olds; and independence as three-week-olds.

Brown sewer rats leave maternal nests even though they launch independent, nearby lifespans within maximally 200-member extended familial groups that the heaviest, largest dominant male leads. Communal nocturnal lifestyles necessitate 150- to 200-foot (46- to 60-meter) diameter territories for nesting in buildings and garbage piles, under floors and ground and within walls.

Poor climbing skills occasion brown sewer rats, observed scientifically by John Berkenhout (July 8, 1726-April 3, 1791), occupying ground-level and underground burrows, cavities, cellars and sewers.

Coarse-furred brown sewer rats present small ears; blunt snouts; sharp back teeth and canines; gray- to red-brown backs; dark sides; slate-furred bodies; and long, sharp claws.

Barn, brown, gray, house, Norway sewer rats queue up 7.87- to 10.24-inch (20- to 26-centimeter) head-body and 7.09- to 8.66-inch (18- to 22-centimeter) scaly tail lengths. They realize 7.06- to 1.1-pound (200-gram to 0.5-kilogram) weights and require baby mammals and poultry, berries, eggs, fish, fruits, grains, insects, leaves, mushrooms, nuts and vegetables. The sharp-scented  descendant of ancient northern Chinese and Mongolian ancestors succeeds in swimming across rivers and streams and survives everywhere, even including cold Antarctic whaling stations.

Children, firefights and rescuers, unlike 2019's troublers of a California research cougar, a three-month-old Colorado cougar and a Texas pitbull dog, treated brown sewer rats thoughtfully.

The two little girls who reported the trapped female brown sewer rat (Rattus norvegicus) express thanks with a drawing to Michael Sehr of non-profit animal rescue group Berufstierrettung Rhein Neckar for the rat's rescue: Berufstierrettung Rhein Neckar @TierrettungRheinNeckar, via Facebook Feb. 24, 2019

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

A female brown sewer rat (Rattus norvegicus, Norway rat), stuck in a sewer manhole cover, squeaks for rescue in Bensheim, central-west Germany: Berufstierrettung Rhein Neckar @TierrettungRheinNeckar, via Facebook Feb. 24, 2019, @ https://www.facebook.com/TierrettungRheinNeckar/photos/pcb.2068999616528869/2070558256373005/

The two little girls who reported the trapped female brown sewer rat (Rattus norvegicus) express thanks with a drawing to Michael Sehr of non-profit animal rescue group Berufstierrettung Rhein Neckar for the rat's rescue: Berufstierrettung Rhein Neckar @TierrettungRheinNeckar, via Facebook Feb. 24, 2019, @ https://www.facebook.com/TierrettungRheinNeckar/photos/pcb.2068999616528869/2070558256373005/

For further information:

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Berkenhout, John. 1769. "Mus. 1. Norvegicus." Outlines of the Natural History of Great Britain and Ireland, Containing a Systematic Arrangement and Concise Description of All the Animals, Vegetables, and Fossiles Which Have Hitherto Been Discovered in These Kingdoms. In Three Volumes. Vol. I: 5. London, England: P. Elmsly.
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Berufstierrettung Rhein Neckar @TierrettungRheinNeckar. 24 February 2019, at 9:11 a.m. "Added a new photo." Facebook.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/TierrettungRheinNeckar/photos/a.393398437422337/2068980183197479/

Berufstierrettung Rhein Neckar @TierrettungRheinNeckar. 24 February 2019, at 9:11 a.m. "Einsatznummer: 217/2019 Datum: 24.02.2019 um 13:50 Uhr Einsatzort: Schillerstrasse, 64625 Bensheim - Auerbach Wanderratte steckt im Gulli fest. . . ." Facebook.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/TierrettungRheinNeckar/posts/2068999616528869

Berufstierrettung Rhein Neckar @TierrettungRheinNeckar. 24 February 2019, at 9:52 a.m. "Added a new photo." Facebook.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/TierrettungRheinNeckar/photos/pcb.2068999616528869/2070558256373005/

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