Matthew Maran / Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) carrying a large dead Brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) in an urban garden, North London, UK. August.

Matthew Maran / Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) cub defending its kill,a large Brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) from another cub, North London, UK. August. Highly commended in the Behaviour : Mammals Category of the Wildlife Ph...

Dave Bevan / Juvenile Brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) raiding a chicken nest in a barn, filmed at night using an infra red camera, Carmarthenshire, Wales, UK, December.

Dave Bevan / Juvenile Brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) entering live trap and escaping, filmed at night using an infra red camera, Carmarthenshire, Wales, UK, November.

Dave Bevan / Juvenile Brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) feeding on grain in a barn, filmed at night using infra red, Carmarthenshire, Wales, UK, October.

Sam Hobson / Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), colour-ringed juvenile in flight, carrying remains of brown rat. Berlin, Germany. July. Nominated in the Melvita Nature Images Awards competition 2014.

Laurent Geslin / Black rat (Rattus rattus) shadows in Karni Mata temple, Deshnoke, near Bikaner, Rajasthan, India

Laurent Geslin / Brown rat {Rattus norvegicus} cleaning itself. Captive. UK.

Laurent Geslin / Offering milk to 'holy' Black rats {Rattus rattus} temple Deshnoke, Rajasthan, India

Laurent Geslin / Black rats feeding on grain {Rattus rattus} Deshnoke, Rajasthan, India

Laurent Geslin / Holy Black rats in Hindu temple {Rattus rattus} Deshnoke, Rajasthan, India, 2002

Ernie Janes,Ernie Janes / Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus) scavenging in bin. UK, May.