Why don't pet animals like pigs & rats need us if they are released?

Question

My rat got loose in my house for about a week.She got loose on the day we were going to Virginia.When we got back we thought she would of been injured or worst.But she was fine!A little dirty but...fine!Fine!FINE!!!^_^
Some poisons were chewed open so she probably ate some cause some were a little empty(the poisons are only meant for the wild mice that get in.).But its been over 6 week weeks and she's still healthy!!

Answer 1

Pigs can become feral and survive very well on their own. Pet Rats are a different story.

I'd say your rat was one lucky girl.....this time.

Pet rats, upon being released outside, do not survive well at all. Too many dangers for a domesticated animal, and they are too trusting.

Pet rats, upon being released in the house, are very resourceful and could survive indefinitely. There are still many dangers, and one day they may get caught by one of these dangers.

There are even some people who do not cage their rats but who allow their pets full free-range access to the house.

spazrats
http://spazrats.tripod.com

Answer 2

First of all, you do not say how long your rat was loose in the house, but rats are clever animals and very good at taking care of themselves. They can also survive for up to 2 weeks without food. (Although this would be very cruel to test on a pet rat!) Water sources could have been anywhere, from the bathroom fixtures or pipes, leftover plant water, to even the condensation on a window pane or behind the fridge. One reason rats are hard to kill with poisen is they always taste a little bit of a new food before they eat the rest. That way, if the little bit makes them feel ill, they know to avoid it from then on.

My family used to keep pet mice, and one got lose for a few weeks. When he was finally caught, he had become so wild that he fought with the other mice, and even tried to bite us! We had no choice but to let him go outside, although given his bright white color he probably didn't live very long.

I'm a bit unsure as to why you combined pigs in with this question about a rat, but pigs are the exception to the rule with large domestic animals. Most (cows, for example) could never survive without human protection. Pigs however are very smart and adaptable, and if they escape captivity, they easily revert back to wild ways. Feral pigs are actually a major problem in some areas, and are considered a harmful invasive species.

Answer 3

i have a rat too
i think its a survival technique they have, stemming back from them being wild animals, not domestic.

i had pet mice ages ago, and i was going on holdiay and had to take them with me. one got out of the cage in the car and i could not find her,
2 weeks later, i found her curled up in a little compartment in the car, she had made a home out of my car regsitration papers, and was eating all kids of paper... and she survived.

Answer 4

Rats are very intelligent little creatures :) They figure out problems, avoid danger, and find things they need for survival with relative ease, even though we keep them as pets.