The Gambian pouched rat is sometimes kept as pet, but some have escaped from captivity and become an invasive species in Florida. A Belgian nonprofit has found African giant pouched rats are much better at detecting TNT than people or dogs. They are primarily nocturnal and can climb well, but spend most of their time on the ground. Report fish kills, wildlife emergencies, sightings, etc. In 2003, the United States' CDC and FDA issued an order preventing the importation of the rodents following the first reported outbreak of monkeypox. The Gambian giant pouched rat is an invasive species that occurs in the Florida Keys. Wildlife Services' National Wildlife Research Center conducts research and investigational activities on a wide variety of wildlife damage issues including those related to Gambian giant pouched rats. Overview The Gambian pouched rat is native to Africa and is the world’s largest rat, reaching up to 9 pounds. The body is gray to brown in color, with a lighter belly. Gambian pouched rats belong to the giant pouched rat genus and are among the largest muroids (a large superfamily of rodents, including mice, rats, voles, hamsters, gerbils) in the world. They are opportunistic and will eat pet food if it is available. The .gov means it’s official. My Gambian pouched rat is the sweetest boy ever. 'Magawa' has detected 39 landmines and 28 items of unexploded ordnance, clearing over 1,517,712 square feet [141,000 square metres.] The FWC, working with USDA Wildlife Services and the city of Marathon, has been trapping the rats and monitoring for them via remote cameras since 2005, with the goal of ensuring that what is believed to be a small population does not grow and expand to other parts of the state. Modify your browser's settings to allow Javascript to execute. They can grow up to three feet in length and weigh as much as nine pounds. Males are territorial and tend to be aggressive when they encounter one another. >>More, Research  While Gambian pouched rats have been confined to Grassy Key, the concern is that they may make it to the mainland and pose a threat to Florida’s agricultural industry in south Miami-Dade County. In Florida, they are often seen around houses, particularly where pets are fed outside. [3] The CDC and FDA in the US now ban the importation of this species because it is blamed for the 2003 outbreak of monkeypox. Gambian pouched rats were imported as pets into Florida until importation was banned in 2003. The Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus), also known as the African giant pouched rat, is a nocturnal pouched rat of the giant pouched rat genus Cricetomys, and is among the largest muroids in the world, growing up to about 0.9 metres (3 ft) long including their tail which makes up half their length. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Fruits and Vegetables Import Requirements (FAVIR). Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://www.thesprucepets.com/gambian-pouched-rats-as-pets-1236743, "Pouched rats sniff for land mines and medical samples", "More huge Gambian rats found on Grassy Key", "Kids want an exotic pet?