Pet Rats, Mole Rats, Venom, and Bohemian Rhapsody Establish Dominance (11-6-18 #30)

Liz and Matt talk new foster rats, naked mole rats, BlizzCon, Venom, Bohemian Rhapsody, Flash, Daredevil, and Doctor Who.
Ratty Topics – We have two sweet new foster pet rats, Willow and Celeste, who are going to their forever home next week. Willow recently had mammary tumor surgery and then had an allergic reaction to her sutures. She developed two seromas in succession that had to be drained but we’re hoping she’s on the mend. (*A seroma is a blood filled pocket of tissue, it looks like a squishy swelling.)
For information on the benefits of spaying to prevent mammary tumors, check out podcast Episode 16 and Episode 29. 
Our silly boy Lando established the pecking order in the newly integrated Spicy Silly Squad (or “Splicey Squad”). After a few weeks of introductions, everyone is getting along!
For tips on how to do rat intros, check out podcast Episode 1, Episode 6, Episode 11, and Episode 22. 
Local Animal News – The National Zoo in Washington, DC has a live-cam of their naked mole rat colony! Squee!! For fans of naked pet rats, they look very similar but have huge fangs. The colony is organised much like bees with a queen… who is close to being decided.
News article about the selection of the queen
In disturbing wildlife news, insects and birds have declined by almost 50% since the 1970’s according to several scientific studies. Insects are the base of the food chain and pollinate most of our food sources –  if they die out, the planet’s ecology will collapse.
Washington Post article – 50% of wildlife gone
Guardian article – massive insect decline
NY Times article – massive bird decline
What can you do?

* Don’t use pesticides on your lawn OR on insects at home – many pest companies routinely offer to kill any and all insects on your property. No! The environment needs bugs.
* Plant a wide variety of native plants – not just orange butterfly weed to save the monarchs, but many different plants which host and feed different species. Non-natives don’t provide any food sources for insects and birds. (And don’t mess with nature, btw, by hand-rearing and releasing monarchs.)
* Get rid of your traditional lawn little by little by adding more and more native plantings.