Alberta's Rat-Free Status
Despite occasional claims to the contrary, Alberta has maintained its rat-free status for 75 years.
University of Alberta anthropology professor Darcie DeAngelo researches rats' relationships with humans.
The rat was a different actor in the minefield, so it created a different choreography of landmine detection.
DeAngelo's research began while studying military wasteland and minefields, where rats are used to detect landmines by scent in Cambodia.
- Rats are light enough to safely walk across landmines without detonating them.
Author's summary: Alberta's rat-free status is researched by U of A professor.