Rats: the planet's most tenacious survivors with a lot to teach humanity Despite their admirable qualities, rats have long been reviled as disgusting and aggressive animals. IDEAS contributor Moira Donovan explores how rats have come to occupy a position as cultural villain, while also exposing their contributions to humanity. Understanding their role in our ecosystem helps us come to terms with them, she argues. Social Sharing For centuries, rats have been vilified and feared. But in truth they are empathetic and rarely aggressive Moira Donovan · Posted: Oct 26, 2020 6:04 PM ET | Last Updated: June 1 Rodents make up 43 per cent of all mammal species, and of these rodents, rats —thanks to their ability to exploit human environments — stand out as some of the planet’s most tenacious survivors. (Sanjay Kanojia/AFP via Getty Images)