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Rats in police work --- they've got a nose for it
Rats have turned out to be great candidates for this type of work. They are extremely smart and are willing to work for small rewards like cheese, crackers, nuts, and fruit. In addition to this, rats are cheaper to train, board, and transport than dogs. It takes about six months to train a bomb sniffing dog, but rats seem to catch onto the task in about half the time. Rats are more focused than dogs, who easily become bored with the job and require lots of attention from their human companions. Plus, trainers can coach several rats at one time, whereas dogs require a one on one relationship. Rats are trained in a maze and are rewarded when they correctly locate explosives. It is said that female rats have a better sense of smell than male rats. After the maze phase of the training is complete, the rats are put to the test in an atmosphere filled with distractions, the same kind of distractions they would encounter when they are on the job. Colombian cocaine producers plant landmines around their crops to deter police. It is estimated that there are over 100,000 landmines in Colombia. Last year over 1,000 people lost their lives to these explosions. Rats offer an alternative to Kevlar cosseted men with metal detectors and dogs that all too often trip the mines with their own weight. Rats are natural diggers and can be deployed in groups to cover an area. Currently, the use of rats is in the experimental stages. Along with making great pets, these little pink-eyed rodents seem to have a useful skill set for law enforcement. Dogs are considered police officers when trained in these specific detection duties. Perhaps one day there will be an Officer Squiggles too.
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Colombia has been plagued by landmines for several decades. Officials, discouraged by losing too many of their bomb sniffing dogs to explosions, have started training rats for the job. It takes 14 ounces of pressure to trip a landmine. Rats, on average weigh about eight ounces. They can squeeze into very small spaces and have a better sense of smell than dogs.