RAT SWIMS RECORD

University of Auckland scientists ran into a few problems studying why rats are so hard to eradicate:

A cunning rat released on a deserted island off New Zealand outsmarted scientists and evaded traps, baits and sniffer dogs before being captured four months later on a neighbouring island, researchers say.

Despite all their efforts, including fitting the rat with a radio collar, they could not catch the crafty creature.

After 10 weeks on the island the rodent decided it had had enough.

It swam 400 metres, the longest distance recorded for a rat across open sea, to another rat-free island where it was eventually captured in a trap baited with penguin meat several weeks later.

It just goes to show you, rats are smarter than kiwis.