How are rats dangerous to other animals? - briefly
Rats spread zoonotic pathogens—including «leptospira», «salmonella», and hantavirus—that infect a wide range of wildlife, and they out‑compete native species for limited food resources, causing malnutrition and lowered reproductive success.
How are rats dangerous to other animals? - in detail
Rats serve as vectors for a wide range of pathogens that affect mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Their saliva, urine, feces and ectoparasites transmit bacteria such as Salmonella and Leptospira, viruses including hantavirus and rabies, and protozoa like Toxoplasma gondii. When these agents are deposited in shared habitats, they can cause gastro‑intestinal illness, renal failure, encephalitis and reproductive disorders in susceptible wildlife.
Competition for limited resources intensifies pressure on native species. Rats exploit stored grains, fruits, insects and carrion, often out‑competing smaller foragers and scavengers. By depleting food supplies, they reduce the reproductive output and survival rates of indigenous fauna that rely on the same nutritional niches.
Direct predation and nest destruction further jeopardize vulnerable populations. Rats raid ground‑nesting bird colonies, amphibian egg masses and reptile burrows, consuming eggs, hatchlings and juveniles. This predatory behavior lowers recruitment in species already facing habitat loss and climate stress.
Additional hazards arise from the rats’ capacity to introduce invasive parasites. Fleas, mites and ticks carried on rat fur infest other animals, spreading ectoparasitic diseases such as plague and mange. Contamination of water sources with rat excreta also creates toxic environments, leading to mortality or sublethal effects in aquatic organisms.