Where does the rat king live? - briefly
The rat king is most commonly encountered in the sewer systems and underground tunnels of historic European ports, such as Hamburg. Similar tangled colonies have also been observed in basements or abandoned buildings where large rodent populations gather.
Where does the rat king live? - in detail
The rat king phenomenon appears in environments where large numbers of rodents coexist with material that can bind their tails together. Such settings are typically dark, humid, and provide easy access to food. Historically documented cases cluster in European urban infrastructure, especially in older cities with extensive underground networks.
Common habitats include:
- Sewer systems and drainage tunnels, where moisture and debris create ideal conditions for entanglement.
- Cellars and basements of grain storage facilities, offering abundant nourishment and confined spaces.
- Attics or lofts of historic buildings, where old ropes, fabric strips, or wiring can serve as binding agents.
- Museum or exhibition collections that preserve specimens, occasionally revealing preserved rat kings among taxidermy displays.
Specific locations with verified findings:
- Hamburg, Germany – several rat kings recovered from the city’s municipal sewers in the early 20th century.
- Copenhagen, Denmark – a specimen discovered in a historic grain warehouse’s basement, now housed in a natural history museum.
- Amsterdam, Netherlands – reports of a rat king found within a canal drainage system, documented by local authorities.
- Berlin, Germany – a preserved example displayed at the Museum für Naturkunde, originating from a former brewery cellar.
Environmental factors that encourage formation are high humidity (above 70 %), temperatures ranging from 10 °C to 20 °C, and the presence of long, flexible materials such as twine, hair, or shredded paper. Dense rat populations increase the likelihood of multiple individuals becoming intertwined, while limited space prevents them from escaping once the bond forms. Consequently, the phenomenon is confined to aged, poorly ventilated structures where these conditions persist over extended periods.