The Screaming Gerbil
The screaming gerbil,
Gerbillus hawkins, is
probably the most famous, if not the most loved, representative of
the Gerbillinae subfamily. As its name indicates, it is renowned for
its loud vocalization, especially pronounced during the mating
season, in late spring.
Native
to the middle east, screaming gerbils have had a profound effect on
life in the region. It is even believed that their screams have
inspired the calls to prayer for Muslims that can be heard all over
the world today. But most of us do not hold the screaming gerbil in
such high regard.
In
1954, when the gerbil was first introduced the U.S.A. for research
purposes, its cuteness was universally admired, and soon, thousands
of the animals where imported for sale. A large number of species was
sampled, to find which would best satisfy customer needs, and the
screaming gerbil was among them.
Sixty
years later, their numbers are still growing, as the screaming gerbil
is now the most common rodent in northern America. Sales of
soundproof windows, and extra-insulated walls have skyrocketed, and
yet there is still no escaping the omnipresent vocalizations of our
rodent friends.
The
department of animal immigration (DAI) has yet to start addressing
the problem in any meaningful way. Meanwhile, all the presidential
hopefuls have pledged to make the extermination of the rodents their
number one priority. Like all of their predecessors.
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