Active Topics | Member List | Search | Help | Register | Login
The John Byrne Forum
Byrne Robotics > The John Byrne Forum
Topic: RAT WAR!! Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message
John Byrne
Avatar
Grumpy Old Guy

Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 135543
Posted: 19 January 2026 at 6:05pm | IP Logged | 1 post reply
LINK

Having grown up in Alberta (circa 1953-1980) I found this most entertaining.* I still remember once in my teens, in Calgary, when a single rat was caught at the airport. The whole city went nuts!

___

* Enough to TEMPORARILY lift my Wikipedia ban.

Back to Top profile | search
 
Peter Martin
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 17 March 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 16329
Posted: 19 January 2026 at 8:44pm | IP Logged | 2 post reply
How strange! 

Rats everywhere here. My pointer was brilliant at revealing their presence in the local parks. No visual needed; she'd freeze near a bank or a flower bed or wherever and you'd wait a few minutes, and then a rats head would peek out.


Edited by Peter Martin on 19 January 2026 at 8:44pm
Back to Top profile | search
 
Andrew Bitner
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 01 June 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 7559
Posted: 19 January 2026 at 8:46pm | IP Logged | 3 post reply
They stay out of sight and avoid people a lot more than we might imagine. Brr...
Back to Top profile | search
 
Robin Taylor
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 1336
Posted: 19 January 2026 at 8:56pm | IP Logged | 4 post reply
The whole rat thing is an ongoing concern here in Alberta. There is a hot line number and an emergency response team that addresses sighting. Living in the city I have never seen a rat but tons of mice.
Back to Top profile | search | www e-mail
 
Edward Aycock
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 13 July 2024
Location: United States
Posts: 104
Posted: 19 January 2026 at 9:02pm | IP Logged | 5 post reply
I'm in NYC.  So, rats are practically a pet (just YouTube any video of rats on a subway car and watch the "tough" New Yorkers freak out.) 

I once had a nightmare that a rat was in my bed with me and I woke up screaming, freaking out my roommate down the hallway.  It was also summer and my windows were open and it was 3 am so I am sure I was heard.  

Another time, I was walking down 125th Street at 5 am and a rushing rat - who was not paying attention- smacked right into my foot.  I don't know who was more startled.

So yeah, Alberta seems pretty nice.  They take their rats seriously. 


Edited by Edward Aycock on 19 January 2026 at 9:02pm
Back to Top profile | search
 
John Byrne
Avatar
Grumpy Old Guy

Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 135543
Posted: 19 January 2026 at 9:04pm | IP Logged | 6 post reply
Do they still call the emergency response team the Rat Patrol? :-)
Back to Top profile | search
 
Michael Penn
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 12 April 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 13096
Posted: 19 January 2026 at 11:01pm | IP Logged | 7 post reply
I was walking with my buddy near Nassau St (in NYC) back when I lived around there in the 80s, and it was very late, everything shut down, and a rat ran onto his foot. As he tried to kick it off, he tripped and fell into... a pile of rats under some boxes left outside of a closed deli.
Back to Top profile | search
 

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login
If you are not already registered you must first register

  Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

 Active Topics | Member List | Search | Help | Register | Login