MOORPARK : Rodents Thrive in College Rat Race

Some colleges have bed races. Some have kissing marathons. At Moorpark College, it’s the Rat Review.

For several years, the college’s Exotic Animal Training and Management Program has staged a Rat Review in the spring, featuring student-trained rodents that climb, jump, slide and go through tunnels and mazes.

Ten members of the animal behavior class entered their pet rodents Friday in the first Fall Rat Review.

About 10 rats took part. They’re the ones that made the cut of those entered in the first round of the review by 40 students, class member Bill Wolden said.

Wolden was pleased with the performance of his two rats, Calvin and Hobbes. They climbed through a three-story house built by Wolden, came out onto a balcony, walked across a wire and slid down a flagpole into a toy truck, Wolden said.

Another class member, Julie Sheridan, entered Monkey-See and Monkey-Do. Each attempted to make its way through a maze at separate times.

“They have distinctly different personalities,” Sheridan said. “One of them, Monkey-See, can run through the maze quickly. But she’s so well trained that she’ll pause on command.”

Monkey-Do, also a female, is more independent. “She’s more of a free-thinker,” Sheridan said. “She likes to set her own pace.”

The rats have been in training for six weeks, college spokesman Gerry Olsen said.

About 30 people attended the public event in the college’s Music Building.

For the first time, class members who are not also enrolled in the animal training and management program were allowed to enter their rodents.

“It’s turned out to be a lot of fun--a real crowd-pleaser,” Olsen said.