Because of its reputation, the rat is generally considered to be a harmful invader of the human species. Humans will use their creativity both to exterminate the rat and to spread a negative image of it. However the rat’s positive image is gradually rehabilitated through domesticating and fiction.

From a nuisance wild animal...

According to historian Robert DELORT [a] there are three types of animals : the wild animals for which humans are predators and parasites, tamed animals that humans have domesticated and controlled, and animals that parasitize humans. Rats fall into the latter category. Indeed, this rodent is an “ anopheline ” animal, in other words it lives unbeknownst to man. It is an animal that human beings have never been able to contain or use selfishly. That is why in the collective imagination, they are often associated with betrayal and deceit, and can represent the darker aspects of human nature. In this illustration from Puck Building's 1909 newspaper, Uncle Sam lures a horde of rats away from the European continent [4]. These half-man, half-rat creatures have the following inscriptions on their coats : “ Jail Bird, Murderer, Thief, Criminal, Crook, Kidnapper, Incendiary, Assassin, Convict, Bandit, Fire Brand, White Slaver, [and] Degenerate. ” In this way, rats are used to caricature the undesirables of human society [b]. The rat becomes the embodiment of disturbing reflections of the human being. In the collective imagination, they are perceived as parasites on human society.

Its reputation as a parasite is also justified by its association with disease : plague, typhoid, etc. Because of the rat's consideration as a pest, humans have launched an unwinnable war against the rat, the “ forever war ” [c] with no holds barred. For example, there are many photos taken during the First World War [5] that show executed rats, aligned in front of a soldier proud of his achievement. There were no ethics when humans kill rats. We do things to this rodent that most of us would find hideous, if they involved almost any other charming animal. Journalist -J.B. MACKINNON [d] sums up techniques generally used : “ We snap them in traps that can fail to kill instantly, leaving the animals maimed. We lure them into pails of water, where they swim until they can’t anymore, then drown. We bait them into patches of glue, where they tear skin and break bones in their efforts to escape, or even gnaw off their own limbs. ” [e] The city of Paris is well-known for its merciless war on rats. The historian Eric BARATAY [f] details the extermination methods set up by the town hall of Paris : in 1852 electrocution, in 1866 gas with carbon sulfide, in 1961 rat poison bait, in 1968 poisoned food, today anti-rat dustbin. In the city, posters were created in order to invite the population to slaughter the rat. This poster Rats, and monsters representing death and diseases attributed to rats [6], draw an image of a machiavellian animal. The rat is next to a skull and a frightening face.

The wild rat is the designated culprit, taking on the role of humanity's parasite. The lack of knowledge associated with historical events reinforces the rat's negative image. Rehabilitation for the rat seems complex if humans don't get to know them better.