Original photo by Holger Kirk/ Shutterstock

Most rats live their lives entirely unseen by humans. As kings of the background, they often scurry through human environments just out of sight or after dark, looking for leftover morsels. But researchers believe rats might be picking up more than just our food crumbs — they could also be picking up on the beats in our music. A study published in 2022 suggests rats may have a humanlike sense of rhythm, which they express by bopping their heads to the beat. Scientists once believed that few animals were beat-sensitive (aside from some birds), but rats exposed to music made microscopic head movements that were picked up by tiny, wireless motion detectors. The researchers hypothesized that rats would prefer faster jams thanks in part to their rapid heartbeats, though surprisingly, lab rats synced up best with music in the 120 to 140 beats-per-minute range — just like humans.

Some rats can detect land mines.

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It's a fact

Magawa, a trained African giant pouched rat, sniffed out more than 100 explosives in Cambodia before dying in 2022. Five years of mine-detecting work landed him a medal, though he wasn’t the only rat with a job; an organization called APOPO has trained hundreds to detect land mines.

Humans have long wondered if animals respond to music the way we do. Charles Darwin’s studies examined the relationship between animals and music, believing rhythm could be found throughout nature and may have been the precursor to music. Today, some experts believe only certain species have the ability to really respond to changing beats — notably bats, birds, dolphins, and elephants, which all have the complex ability to learn and repeat new sounds. However, some studies show other animals interact with music, too; one experiment found that pigs exposed to certain music became playful and wagged their tails. Additionally, many farmers report their cows are calmer when the radio is on, with a supporting study reporting that dairy cows produce 3% more milk while listening to slow tunes (fast music had no effect). And when it comes to our best pet companions, music is known to soothe anxious dogs in shelters and adoption centers, though felines — known for being a bit finicky — couldn’t care less about human music. However, they do respond positively to tailored tunes that use beats and frequencies similar to their own meows.

Numbers Don't Lie

Numbers Don't Lie

Average number of baby rats born per litter, with up to 12 litters per year
8-9
Length (in feet) of the slender-tailed cloud rat Phloeomys cumingi, the largest rat species
3.25
Average lifespan (in years) of a domesticated pet rat
2-4
Number of American households reporting unwanted rodents in 2020
14.8 million

Rats are found on every continent except ______.

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Rats are found on every continent except Antarctica.

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Rats are picky eaters.

If you’ve ever been hesitant about trying a new food, you have something in common with rats. That’s because rats are known for being picky eaters. These discerning rodents are cautious for good reason — they’re unable to vomit, so avoiding potential poisoning is top of mind with every new food they find, since they can’t purge toxins the way humans do. Wild rats are known to test out new foods in small amounts, taking a few nibbles and waiting hours to see if they have any unfortunate side effects before diving into their scavenged meals. And just like humans, rats appear to gain more sophisticated palates as they age; younger rats seem to prefer sugary treats, though they eventually learn to enjoy more bitter flavors as they get older.

Nicole Garner Meeker
Writer

Nicole Garner Meeker is a writer and editor based in St. Louis. Her history, nature, and food stories have also appeared at Mental Floss and Better Report.