Stephen Dubner

I'm Stephen Dubner. This is Freakonomics Radio, and we will be right back. I'm sorry. We will be right back. A rat is a rodent, a member of the order Rodentia, which contains over 2000 species. Nearly half of all mammals are rodents. They are famous for their gnawing ability, which is carried out by large pairs of upper and lower front incisors.

I'm Stephen Dubner. This is Freakonomics Radio, and we will be right back. I'm sorry. We will be right back. A rat is a rodent, a member of the order Rodentia, which contains over 2000 species. Nearly half of all mammals are rodents. They are famous for their gnawing ability, which is carried out by large pairs of upper and lower front incisors.

Squirrels, mice, beavers, hamsters, prairie dogs, porcupines, they are all rodents. But it seems fair to say that rats are the most despised member of this order. Why? For that, let's go back to Bethany Brookshire.

Squirrels, mice, beavers, hamsters, prairie dogs, porcupines, they are all rodents. But it seems fair to say that rats are the most despised member of this order. Why? For that, let's go back to Bethany Brookshire.

Squirrels, mice, beavers, hamsters, prairie dogs, porcupines, they are all rodents. But it seems fair to say that rats are the most despised member of this order. Why? For that, let's go back to Bethany Brookshire.

Talk about just the title itself and what kind of work you're asking that word pests to do.

Talk about just the title itself and what kind of work you're asking that word pests to do.

Talk about just the title itself and what kind of work you're asking that word pests to do.

Do you think the rat has been unfairly tarnished its reputation over time by having been associated with the Black Death?

Do you think the rat has been unfairly tarnished its reputation over time by having been associated with the Black Death?

Do you think the rat has been unfairly tarnished its reputation over time by having been associated with the Black Death?

Humans do like to assign blame to other animals, but as Brookshire points out, the blame can be assigned somewhat randomly. Consider the rabbit. The rabbit is not a rodent, although it used to be classified as such. Today, it is considered a lagomorph since it has four upper incisors, not two. For most people, the rabbit is thought of as... believe the technical term is cute. It's fluffy.

Humans do like to assign blame to other animals, but as Brookshire points out, the blame can be assigned somewhat randomly. Consider the rabbit. The rabbit is not a rodent, although it used to be classified as such. Today, it is considered a lagomorph since it has four upper incisors, not two. For most people, the rabbit is thought of as... believe the technical term is cute. It's fluffy.

Humans do like to assign blame to other animals, but as Brookshire points out, the blame can be assigned somewhat randomly. Consider the rabbit. The rabbit is not a rodent, although it used to be classified as such. Today, it is considered a lagomorph since it has four upper incisors, not two. For most people, the rabbit is thought of as... believe the technical term is cute. It's fluffy.

It hops. It has facial features that kind of look like a human baby. If we think of rats as trash eaters, we think of rabbits as carrot nibblers. So cute. But not everywhere is the rabbit considered so benign. In Australia, where rabbits nibble some $125 million worth a year of agricultural crops, there is a new rabbit czar tasked with curbing the Australian bunny population.

It hops. It has facial features that kind of look like a human baby. If we think of rats as trash eaters, we think of rabbits as carrot nibblers. So cute. But not everywhere is the rabbit considered so benign. In Australia, where rabbits nibble some $125 million worth a year of agricultural crops, there is a new rabbit czar tasked with curbing the Australian bunny population.

It hops. It has facial features that kind of look like a human baby. If we think of rats as trash eaters, we think of rabbits as carrot nibblers. So cute. But not everywhere is the rabbit considered so benign. In Australia, where rabbits nibble some $125 million worth a year of agricultural crops, there is a new rabbit czar tasked with curbing the Australian bunny population.

In her book, Bethany Brookshire writes about many other animals who are considered pests in some circumstances, even if they don't deserve to be, like snakes and elephants and coyotes and the well-known bird that some people today call rats with wings.

In her book, Bethany Brookshire writes about many other animals who are considered pests in some circumstances, even if they don't deserve to be, like snakes and elephants and coyotes and the well-known bird that some people today call rats with wings.

In her book, Bethany Brookshire writes about many other animals who are considered pests in some circumstances, even if they don't deserve to be, like snakes and elephants and coyotes and the well-known bird that some people today call rats with wings.