A study of the wily brown rat, humankind’s unwanted companion throughout the world, whose bite on the world’s food resources adds to the growing threat of shortage. In a normal, free-ranging environment, the rat is more than a match for its hosts and colonies flourish. Under abnormal conditions of restricted space and limited food, a rat colony loses all “social” constraints on behavior. The film has implicit analogies for all animal behavior, including humanity’s. Plagues, predators and extermination attempts are among the topics discussed.
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How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
008957
Language
English
Subject categories
Agriculture, Business, Commerce & Industry → Food supply
Agriculture, Business, Commerce & Industry → Pests
Animals & Wildlife → Animal behavior
Animals & Wildlife → Animal populations
Animals & Wildlife → Biological research
Animals & Wildlife → Evolution (Biology)
Animals & Wildlife → Predatory animals
Climate, Environment, Natural Resources & Disasters → Environment - Social aspects
Climate, Environment, Natural Resources & Disasters → Natural history
Climate, Environment, Natural Resources & Disasters → Pests
Documentary → Documentary films - Canada
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Environment - Social aspects
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Food supply
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Social problems
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Behavior evolution
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Food supply
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Pests
Mathematics, Science & Technology → Behavior evolution
Mathematics, Science & Technology → Biological research
Mathematics, Science & Technology → Evolution (Biology)
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Colour
Holdings
16mm film; Access Print (Section 1)