Helsinki Urban Rat Project
@helsinkirats.bsky.social
Inter-/multi-/transdisciplinary research on rats in the City of Helsinki Finland! Come for the rat photos and videos, stay for transformative multispecies research.
Managed by @aivelo.bsky.social
Managed by @aivelo.bsky.social
Tutkijamme Santtu Pentikäinen kertoi rottien syksystä Viiden jälkeen -ohjelmassa: www.mtvuutiset.fi/videot/video...
Rotat liikkuvat syksyllä
Rotat liikkuvat syksyllä.
www.mtvuutiset.fi
October 10, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Tutkijamme Santtu Pentikäinen kertoi rottien syksystä Viiden jälkeen -ohjelmassa: www.mtvuutiset.fi/videot/video...
Reposted by Helsinki Urban Rat Project
RHEV Helsinki strains clustered together with strains from South Korea and Spain, but polytomous phylogenetic trees and large branch lengths suggest lack of sampling. Our genotype RHEV-C1 has been reported to cause mild liver dysfunction with human case reports from Hong Kong, Spain, and France.
September 30, 2025 at 6:59 AM
RHEV Helsinki strains clustered together with strains from South Korea and Spain, but polytomous phylogenetic trees and large branch lengths suggest lack of sampling. Our genotype RHEV-C1 has been reported to cause mild liver dysfunction with human case reports from Hong Kong, Spain, and France.
Reposted by Helsinki Urban Rat Project
Just out of press: genetic characterization of rat hepatitis E virus in Helsinki rats in Archives of Virology!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Earlier we reported that we found RHEV in four of our rat carcasses (prevalence of less than 2%) and now we have complete or partial genomes for these.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Earlier we reported that we found RHEV in four of our rat carcasses (prevalence of less than 2%) and now we have complete or partial genomes for these.
Genetic characterization of rat hepatitis E virus (Rocahepevirus ratti) in urban brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Helsinki, Finland - Archives of Virology
We report complete and partial genome sequences of rat hepatitis E virus (RHEV, Rocahepevirus ratti), from archived brown rats captured in Helsinki, Finland. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the presence of the pathogenic RHEV genotype C1 in the Helsinki region. Finnish strains clustered together with strains from South Korea and Spain. However, the polytomous topology of phylogenetic trees and the large genetic distances between spatially distinct strains suggest that RHEV has remained inadequately sampled on a global scale. Further surveillance of rocahepeviruses is needed to assess their threat to public health and to understand their diversity and evolutionary patterns.
link.springer.com
September 30, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Just out of press: genetic characterization of rat hepatitis E virus in Helsinki rats in Archives of Virology!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Earlier we reported that we found RHEV in four of our rat carcasses (prevalence of less than 2%) and now we have complete or partial genomes for these.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Earlier we reported that we found RHEV in four of our rat carcasses (prevalence of less than 2%) and now we have complete or partial genomes for these.
Reposted by Helsinki Urban Rat Project
The research might be "eclectic disciplinary perspectives", but as Riikka aptly summarizes: "Urban stigmatisation and marginalisation are multispecies processes that emerge with place-making and have consequences for all the multispecies cohabitants of the city."
(5/5)
(5/5)
September 24, 2025 at 2:19 PM
The research might be "eclectic disciplinary perspectives", but as Riikka aptly summarizes: "Urban stigmatisation and marginalisation are multispecies processes that emerge with place-making and have consequences for all the multispecies cohabitants of the city."
(5/5)
(5/5)
Reposted by Helsinki Urban Rat Project
Waste, humans, rats - junk food, shopping centers, drunk people. "Well, this just happens to be a place where people randomly poop around, business as usual."
Belonging and place-making are multispecies phenomena, and urban is not only human, but more-than-human.
(4/5)
Belonging and place-making are multispecies phenomena, and urban is not only human, but more-than-human.
(4/5)
September 24, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Waste, humans, rats - junk food, shopping centers, drunk people. "Well, this just happens to be a place where people randomly poop around, business as usual."
Belonging and place-making are multispecies phenomena, and urban is not only human, but more-than-human.
(4/5)
Belonging and place-making are multispecies phenomena, and urban is not only human, but more-than-human.
(4/5)
Reposted by Helsinki Urban Rat Project
With this invisible rat presence, we examined urban stigmatisation and belonging as examples of societal phenomena which can be rethought as multispecies. They are very territorial in scope, and place-making emerged as a fruitful concept to understand how multispecies urban is formed.
(3/5)
(3/5)
September 24, 2025 at 2:19 PM
With this invisible rat presence, we examined urban stigmatisation and belonging as examples of societal phenomena which can be rethought as multispecies. They are very territorial in scope, and place-making emerged as a fruitful concept to understand how multispecies urban is formed.
(3/5)
(3/5)
Reposted by Helsinki Urban Rat Project
We (as in the ragtag bunch of researchers in CitiRats project) went out to look for rats with lower secondary-school students and we did not see any rats, but we did felt their hidden presence. They were present in stories, stereotypes, memories, and athmospheres.
(2/5)
(2/5)
September 24, 2025 at 2:19 PM
We (as in the ragtag bunch of researchers in CitiRats project) went out to look for rats with lower secondary-school students and we did not see any rats, but we did felt their hidden presence. They were present in stories, stereotypes, memories, and athmospheres.
(2/5)
(2/5)
Reposted by Helsinki Urban Rat Project
🚨New paper out today: ‘This place cannot be tidied up!’ Stigmatisation, rats, and place-making in a multispecies city🚨
The paper led by Riikka Hohti out today in Children's Geographies: doi.org/10.1080/1473...
A short thread:
(1/5)
The paper led by Riikka Hohti out today in Children's Geographies: doi.org/10.1080/1473...
A short thread:
(1/5)
‘This place cannot be tidied up!’ Stigmatisation, rats, and place-making in a multispecies city
This paper presents a multidisciplinary research project which invited young people to critically re-estimate what is environment and nature, and for whom, in the urbanising world. We describe a se...
doi.org
September 24, 2025 at 2:19 PM
🚨New paper out today: ‘This place cannot be tidied up!’ Stigmatisation, rats, and place-making in a multispecies city🚨
The paper led by Riikka Hohti out today in Children's Geographies: doi.org/10.1080/1473...
A short thread:
(1/5)
The paper led by Riikka Hohti out today in Children's Geographies: doi.org/10.1080/1473...
A short thread:
(1/5)
Reposted by Helsinki Urban Rat Project
‘Ik ben ecoloog, dus ik probeer ratten niet te zien als een plaagdier.' Ik weet dat dit provocerend klinkt, want ecologen zijn goed in het beoordelen (en doden) van andere dieren.
Mare interviewde mij over ons rattenonderzoek en het samenleven met vervelende dieren: www.mareonline.nl/wetenschap/r...
Mare interviewde mij over ons rattenonderzoek en het samenleven met vervelende dieren: www.mareonline.nl/wetenschap/r...
Plaagdieren? Welnee! Ratten zijn onze vrienden, betoogt Finse ecoloog
Mensen kunnen vreedzaam samenleven met ratten, betoogt ecoloog Tuomas Aivelo. ‘We geven gemengde signalen af.’
www.mareonline.nl
September 19, 2025 at 9:29 AM
‘Ik ben ecoloog, dus ik probeer ratten niet te zien als een plaagdier.' Ik weet dat dit provocerend klinkt, want ecologen zijn goed in het beoordelen (en doden) van andere dieren.
Mare interviewde mij over ons rattenonderzoek en het samenleven met vervelende dieren: www.mareonline.nl/wetenschap/r...
Mare interviewde mij over ons rattenonderzoek en het samenleven met vervelende dieren: www.mareonline.nl/wetenschap/r...
Reposted by Helsinki Urban Rat Project
Voimme neuvotella rottien kanssa ja löytää uusia yhdessäelon tapoja - Karolina kirjoitti lyhyen tiivistelmän uudesta tutkimuksesta @helsinkirats.bsky.social-nettisivuille: www.helsinki.fi/fi/projektit...
Voimme neuvotella rottien kanssa ja löytää uusia yhdessäelon tapoja | Kaupunkirotat | Helsingin yliopisto
Usein suhtaudumme kaupunkeihin ihmisten tilana, johon muut eläimet tunkeutuvat. Rotat ovat eritysen epähaluttuja naapureita. Mutta voimmeko oppia elämään niiden kanssa? Voimmeko neuvotella rottien kan...
www.helsinki.fi
July 18, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Voimme neuvotella rottien kanssa ja löytää uusia yhdessäelon tapoja - Karolina kirjoitti lyhyen tiivistelmän uudesta tutkimuksesta @helsinkirats.bsky.social-nettisivuille: www.helsinki.fi/fi/projektit...
New research on multispecies conflicts and urban cohabitation!
🚨New paper!🚨
Can we negotiate our cohabitation with rats? Karolina Lukasik spearheaded study, which suggests there might not be alternative!
Out now in a special issue on urban multispecies justice of npj Urban Sustainability: doi.org/10.1038/s429...
A short thread: (1/9)
Can we negotiate our cohabitation with rats? Karolina Lukasik spearheaded study, which suggests there might not be alternative!
Out now in a special issue on urban multispecies justice of npj Urban Sustainability: doi.org/10.1038/s429...
A short thread: (1/9)
July 16, 2025 at 8:24 AM
New research on multispecies conflicts and urban cohabitation!
Reposted by Helsinki Urban Rat Project
Mielenkiintoista uutta tutkimustietoa rotista 🐀 by @helsinkirats.bsky.social: alustavien tutkimustulosten perusteella rottien määrä on yhteydessä alueen sosioekonomisiin tekijöihin, mutta syitä ilmiöön ei vielä tunneta. #tutkimus #kaupunkieläimet
Tutkija osaa päätellä asukkaiden perusteella, onko alueella paljon vai vähän rottia – taustalla tuore tutkimus
Asukkaiden taloudellinen ja sosiaalinen asema on yhteydessä rottien määrään Helsingissä. Tarkkaa syytä ilmiölle ei vielä tiedetä.
yle.fi
July 8, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Mielenkiintoista uutta tutkimustietoa rotista 🐀 by @helsinkirats.bsky.social: alustavien tutkimustulosten perusteella rottien määrä on yhteydessä alueen sosioekonomisiin tekijöihin, mutta syitä ilmiöön ei vielä tunneta. #tutkimus #kaupunkieläimet
New research on rat ethology out now!
🚨New research klaxon! 🚨
Out in now in Mammalian Biology, our ethology paper on social interactions between rats based on trail camera material!
doi.org/10.1007/s429...
A short thread: (1/6)
Out in now in Mammalian Biology, our ethology paper on social interactions between rats based on trail camera material!
doi.org/10.1007/s429...
A short thread: (1/6)
July 1, 2025 at 11:37 AM
New research on rat ethology out now!
Reposted by Helsinki Urban Rat Project
Happy to talk with @politiken.dk about rats, and apparently disagree with the whole of Denmark.
politiken.dk/edition/news...
politiken.dk/edition/news...
I've cycled through the streets with dead rats brushing against my leg. And now I'm obsessed
They live in our parks, basements, and dine with us at restaurants. Despite spending more and more money to eradicate them, Copenhagen’s rats have already won. Have we completely misunderstood the urb...
politiken.dk
June 17, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Happy to talk with @politiken.dk about rats, and apparently disagree with the whole of Denmark.
politiken.dk/edition/news...
politiken.dk/edition/news...
Our Karolina Lukasik will be discussing some fundamental questions today in BBC Radio Scotland Mornings show at around 11.30!
June 13, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Our Karolina Lukasik will be discussing some fundamental questions today in BBC Radio Scotland Mornings show at around 11.30!
Reposted by Helsinki Urban Rat Project
This was an effort of multiple people devising data collection, two students coding and a number of us helping in analysis and writing up the results! Really fun interdisciplinary effort. Illustrations by Susu Rytteri! 8/8
March 18, 2025 at 3:05 PM
This was an effort of multiple people devising data collection, two students coding and a number of us helping in analysis and writing up the results! Really fun interdisciplinary effort. Illustrations by Susu Rytteri! 8/8
Reposted by Helsinki Urban Rat Project
The most interesting finding was that almost any species or reason could either lead to increase or decrease of feeding, depending on the context.
A lot of people like to go against the grain: when everybody else stop feeding due to rats, someone doubles down and feeds more. 7/8
A lot of people like to go against the grain: when everybody else stop feeding due to rats, someone doubles down and feeds more. 7/8
March 18, 2025 at 3:05 PM
The most interesting finding was that almost any species or reason could either lead to increase or decrease of feeding, depending on the context.
A lot of people like to go against the grain: when everybody else stop feeding due to rats, someone doubles down and feeds more. 7/8
A lot of people like to go against the grain: when everybody else stop feeding due to rats, someone doubles down and feeds more. 7/8
Reposted by Helsinki Urban Rat Project
People described a number of reasons to increase feeding such as caring for endangered species, empathy or interest in birds, keeping up traditions, supporting biodiversit or wanting to provide nature connection to children or cats looking behind the window. 5/8
March 18, 2025 at 3:05 PM
People described a number of reasons to increase feeding such as caring for endangered species, empathy or interest in birds, keeping up traditions, supporting biodiversit or wanting to provide nature connection to children or cats looking behind the window. 5/8
Reposted by Helsinki Urban Rat Project
There are many papers on the motivations to feed birds and how bird-feeding affects bird and non-avian communities. There are less studies on how communities at the bird-feeder affect the feeding practices and the first peek of the dat seems to show that that's where the drama happens! 4/8
March 18, 2025 at 3:05 PM
There are many papers on the motivations to feed birds and how bird-feeding affects bird and non-avian communities. There are less studies on how communities at the bird-feeder affect the feeding practices and the first peek of the dat seems to show that that's where the drama happens! 4/8
Reposted by Helsinki Urban Rat Project
The first part of data was presented in @flewrabi.bsky.social's paper few months ago in People and Nature: doi.org/10.1002/pan3...
In the second part, we focused on the 15,000+ open-ended answers which proved to be a treasure trove. 3/8
In the second part, we focused on the 15,000+ open-ended answers which proved to be a treasure trove. 3/8
How, why, where and when people feed birds?—Spatio‐temporal changes in bird‐feeding in Finland
Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
doi.org
March 18, 2025 at 3:05 PM
The first part of data was presented in @flewrabi.bsky.social's paper few months ago in People and Nature: doi.org/10.1002/pan3...
In the second part, we focused on the 15,000+ open-ended answers which proved to be a treasure trove. 3/8
In the second part, we focused on the 15,000+ open-ended answers which proved to be a treasure trove. 3/8
Reposted by Helsinki Urban Rat Project
Bird-feeding could be the most common human-wild animal interaction in the Global North.
My colleagues collected an impressive dataset on changes in bird-feeding and rats were one of the major reasons to reduce feeding so I was asked to collaborate. 2/8
My colleagues collected an impressive dataset on changes in bird-feeding and rats were one of the major reasons to reduce feeding so I was asked to collaborate. 2/8
March 18, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Bird-feeding could be the most common human-wild animal interaction in the Global North.
My colleagues collected an impressive dataset on changes in bird-feeding and rats were one of the major reasons to reduce feeding so I was asked to collaborate. 2/8
My colleagues collected an impressive dataset on changes in bird-feeding and rats were one of the major reasons to reduce feeding so I was asked to collaborate. 2/8
Reposted by Helsinki Urban Rat Project
Now out in npj Biodiversity: Multispecies relations shape bird-feeding practices
Link: doi.org/10.1038/s441...
From the bird-feeding section of
@helsinkirats.bsky.social w/ @informedbirds.bsky.social @aksulehikoinen.bsky.social
A short thread:
1/8
Link: doi.org/10.1038/s441...
From the bird-feeding section of
@helsinkirats.bsky.social w/ @informedbirds.bsky.social @aksulehikoinen.bsky.social
A short thread:
1/8
March 18, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Now out in npj Biodiversity: Multispecies relations shape bird-feeding practices
Link: doi.org/10.1038/s441...
From the bird-feeding section of
@helsinkirats.bsky.social w/ @informedbirds.bsky.social @aksulehikoinen.bsky.social
A short thread:
1/8
Link: doi.org/10.1038/s441...
From the bird-feeding section of
@helsinkirats.bsky.social w/ @informedbirds.bsky.social @aksulehikoinen.bsky.social
A short thread:
1/8
Reposted by Helsinki Urban Rat Project
Osallistuin tiederuno-kilpailuun ja runoni jyrsijämyrkyistä (josta kuvassa puolet) sijoittui 10:n parhaan joukkoon. (Ping @aivelo.bsky.social ja @helsinkirats.bsky.social) 🐀
Runo on julkaistu reilun 40:n muun runon kanssa Tiederunoja-kirjassa, jonka on toimittanut Heli Katajamäki. #tiedetaivas 📚
Runo on julkaistu reilun 40:n muun runon kanssa Tiederunoja-kirjassa, jonka on toimittanut Heli Katajamäki. #tiedetaivas 📚
March 21, 2024 at 9:13 AM
Osallistuin tiederuno-kilpailuun ja runoni jyrsijämyrkyistä (josta kuvassa puolet) sijoittui 10:n parhaan joukkoon. (Ping @aivelo.bsky.social ja @helsinkirats.bsky.social) 🐀
Runo on julkaistu reilun 40:n muun runon kanssa Tiederunoja-kirjassa, jonka on toimittanut Heli Katajamäki. #tiedetaivas 📚
Runo on julkaistu reilun 40:n muun runon kanssa Tiederunoja-kirjassa, jonka on toimittanut Heli Katajamäki. #tiedetaivas 📚
"Ajattelemalla jälkilevyä rottien ja ihmisten yhteistyönä, tieteellisen tutkimuksen painopiste siirtyy tiedontuottamisen prosesseihin ---. Tällainen näkökulma antaa tilaa huomata maailma ihmistä ja ihmiskeskeisyyttä laajempana", sanoo @aivelo.bsky.social
Millainen on rotan rooli kaupunkirottatutkimuksessa? | Kaupunkirotat | Helsingin yliopisto
On kuitenkin esitetty, että planetaarisiin kriiseihin kuten biodiversiteettikatoon vastaaminen edellyttää ihmisen ja muun luonnon hierarkkisuuden purkamista. Voisiko ekologinen tutkimus auttaa?
www.helsinki.fi
March 18, 2024 at 9:01 AM
"Ajattelemalla jälkilevyä rottien ja ihmisten yhteistyönä, tieteellisen tutkimuksen painopiste siirtyy tiedontuottamisen prosesseihin ---. Tällainen näkökulma antaa tilaa huomata maailma ihmistä ja ihmiskeskeisyyttä laajempana", sanoo @aivelo.bsky.social
Reposted by Helsinki Urban Rat Project
New paper alert! Our rat educational science out now in Environmental Education Research: t.co/vKDQrLkG25
#citsci
A short thread follows:
#citsci
A short thread follows:
March 15, 2024 at 3:27 PM
New paper alert! Our rat educational science out now in Environmental Education Research: t.co/vKDQrLkG25
#citsci
A short thread follows:
#citsci
A short thread follows: