Rats capable of selflessness

As featured Jan. 7, 2011, on www.cnjonline.com

Few in the animal world have obtained a reputation quite as bad as theirs. In fact, their name is so bad, it has become ingrained in cliché’s and slang as a negative.
And as if that bad rep weren’t enough, the thought that rats might be smart or playful or even make good pets is an even harder sell for most people.
But the idea that rats are nasty little creatures that are only out to save their own hides has come under attack by the science community, and it turns out it may be altogether wrong.
In a recently released study, scientists found rats will work relentlessly, forsaking personal comfort, to free a friend locked in a trap.
Not only did the rats poke around and work at the trap until they sprung their fellow rat, they ignored nearby treats until they had set their buddies free, then shared in the spoils.
As I read the study I dismissed it as rats just being overly curious – wanting to go where they aren’t supposed to be.
No, the scientists thought of that too and found that if the trap was empty, the test rats ignored it and went straight to the snacks, chowing down.
When the trapped rat showed panic or called out, they responded in kind, working with a sense of urgency to get them free faster.
With trial after trial conducted, scientists eliminated possible reasons why they did what they did, concluding it wasn’t curiosity, or hunger or just plain problem solving drive that motivated the rats to free their trapped pals.
The reason they settled on was instead a rather humanistic and one completely in contradiction to the characteristics they are branded with.
Empathy.
The ability to identify and share the feelings of another, more than just understanding as in the case of sympathy, but rather taking it to the point of feeling the same thing as someone else – not exactly something one might expect of a rat.
Not only did scientists conclude that rats become concerned about their friends, responding to their fear with heroic fervor, female rats were even more driven to help those in distress than their male counterparts.
Rats certainly come across as greedy, so driven by food, that they consume virtually anything in their path in the search for nibbles, but the information gives the impression there is something even more important to them than a full stomach.
It shows a human emotion that isn’t often found to exist in the animal world.
Without a doubt, it can be a little challenging to get past the urine trails and droppings, the fact they can carry disease, tend to congregate and multiply, or their insatiable appetites. When you look at it like that, it’s certainly no wonder they aren’t usually held in high regard.
Yet, if the study is correct, it seems they have a softer side that includes a little bit of selflessness.
I have to admit, I can’t help but wonder what it actually means in the long run, especially considering they can apparently turn the empathy off, which they surely must do when they often kill cage mates and eat their remains.
Yeah, the trials may give a new level of intrigue to the way rats think, but it’s probably not time to strap barrels under their chins, reflective vests on their backs, and send them out on patrol for those in distress.