Cause of Chicago’s Viral ‘Rat Hole’ Finally Discovered–and It’s Not a Rat
Summary
Scientists have discovered that the "Chicago rat hole," a popular viral mystery, was not caused by a rat but likely by a squirrel. Researchers compared the imprint to different local rodents and concluded it most likely matches the shape of an eastern gray squirrel. This finding comes from a study published in the journal Biology Letters.Key Facts
- A sidewalk imprint in Chicago known as the "Chicago rat hole" became famous online, believed to be made by a rat.
- Researchers from the University of Tennessee and the New York Institute of Technology studied the imprint.
- The analysis showed a 98.67% chance that the imprint was made by a squirrel, specifically pointing to the eastern gray squirrel common in Chicago.
- The mark gained attention when a comedian posted about it online, and it became a quirky landmark called “Splatatouille.”
- Experts noted that the absence of footprints around the imprint suggests the animal likely fell into the wet concrete from above.
- The researchers suggested renaming the mark the "Windy City Sidewalk Squirrel."
- The study highlights how surprising real-world events can lead to scientific investigations.
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