Zombie Rats

[CannonDC]

I searched and couldnt find a similar thread so I am sorry if this is a duplicate.

Last night I finished reading Safari Man (mountain man series) by Keith C. Blackmore, if you havent read it basically all the zombies this dude kills are disapearing and he doesnt know why until hes trapped in a house at night and millions of rats pour out of the sewers to consume the freshly killed undead, clothes, bones and all. As you would guess the effect their new dietary suplement has on them is an infectious one.

Ok so Im wondering how many different types of animals would become zombie mutts. Dogs, cats, rats, mice(maybe), crows, bears possibly, pigs, any kind of meat eating animal that had starved to the point where it would consume the dead. Fearless and unable to feel pain. How could you defend against them

[Projo]

Here is one on 48 million year old zombie ants.
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/08/18/parasite-infested-zombie-ants-walked-the-earth-48-million-years-ago/

[CannonDC]

The zombie ant thing is interesting but I was thinking more along the line of zombie animals that would attack humans and themselves alike

[KeithCB]

Well, assuming that the animals can be infected by the virus, defending against zombie animals would depend on where and how you would encounter them, I think. Cats and Dogs for example, in a big city , might be confined to their owner's apartments and getting out of it would be challenge number one (unless the owner is in there and breaks down the door for them all--but then, if the owner is in there, there's a chance that the person might have consumed the pet to begin with--eating just enough to rob the animal of mobility). Unless they're strays, which might be too few to band together to actually be a threat, other than passing it on to a living person.

I think in regards to most other domesticated animals--they'd have to escape their pens at first. Zoo animals could potentially be contained.

It would be something to see--a bunch of zombiefied chickens for example. Or cows. Crows could be a serious threat, as there are enough of them flying free to gather up and actually attack something. Trouble is, being dead, I doubt that they'd be able to stay airborne for too long--if at all. I think they'd be too stiff and would be grounded (all my opinion only).

Now, wild animals would be something--if they were animals that took to roving in packs. I actually have a zombiefied grizzy in "The Missing Boatman."

Defending against them would be the same as regular undead, if a person had to--but I don't think the threat would be there unless they could somehow mass together--which is the zombie's main weapon. Singularly, sure they are a problem, but in a large group, they are a force to be avoided at all costs.

All just opinion.

[TWhite260]

But, for the most part, aren't most infections non transferable between species?

There is always a posibility of a mass infection in cats or dogs that just kills them and doesn't effect any other species. Even zombified, if they were locked in a house, or a single room, they could be easily shot, or just waited out until they starved.

[CannonDC]

Most infections are not transferable between species, that is until the virus or bacteria evolves. For example the avian bird flu evolved to where it would infect pigs which in turn evolved to infect humans hence being named swine flu.

In reality if a virus existed that turned humans into cannabilistic mindless death bringers it was more than likely created in a lab and test on lab animals like monkeys and rats which have something like 95% similar brain anatomy, which leads me to believe that it would infect regular rats as well.

And Keith, I havent read the missing boatman yet, Ill have to dl it next time Im home, I dont have wifi here at work.

[KeithCB]

And Keith, I havent read the missing boatman yet

Oh that's okay. Only mentioned it as an example. I

[CannonDC]

I had a nightmare about zombie pigeons... damn it

[gustovski]

there were zombie dogs in i am legend, and zombie monkeys and pigs and dogs in cod, and sheep in black sheep!
and i believe that any animal could be infected, rats pigeons, cats, dogs, humans, cows, sheep, primates(chimps monkeys humans etc.), snakes, chickens, mice, bears, fish, alligators, kangaroos just to name a few! i could list thousands of possibly infectable
the closer related to humans the more likely they could be pasted to and from humans
imagine a herd of zombie red kangaroos! they would be able to stop a tank!

[cv66er]

One constant in zombie movies isthat the human zombies want to eat human flesh. Would zombie rats want to eat rat flesh instead?

[gustovski]

One constant in zombie movies isthat the human zombies want to eat human flesh. Would zombie rats want to eat rat flesh instead?

good point i would say they prefer rat but will eat any meat

[djblocker88]

there were zombie dogs in i am legend, and zombie monkeys and pigs and dogs in cod, and sheep in black sheep!
and i believe that any animal could be infected, rats pigeons, cats, dogs, humans, cows, sheep, primates(chimps monkeys humans etc.), snakes, chickens, mice, bears, fish, alligators, kangaroos just to name a few! i could list thousands of possibly infectable
the closer related to humans the more likely they could be pasted to and from humans
imagine a herd of zombie red kangaroos! they would be able to stop a tank!

Snakes, fish, alligators, might not get infected. What if it was solely mammalian? Pigeons maybe, tons of birds for mutations to occur. But how many reptiles are there.

[gustovski]

. But how many reptiles are there.

lots
goannas snakes lizzards dinosaurs and much more
it could be only able to infect mammals butthat we dont know

[Lord Lav]

This whole thing would be terrifying. Not only have you gotta dodge human zombies, you gotta dodge every other living thing too??

[gustovski]

This whole thing would be terrifying. Not only have you gotta dodge human zombies, you gotta dodge every other living thing too??

yup pretty much!
zombies = you are screwed unless you have a bulldozer and more ammo than the queens army

[CannonDC]

I do have a bulldozer and lots and lots and lots and lots of ammo but idk a reason what really got to me was there are BAJILLIONS (not a real number, i know) of rats and field mice around where I live (farm townish suburb) so if they did feast on the undead and in turn became infected I feel like human population on this planet would be screwed, of course only if they horded together, which if zombie stories have taught us anything they will. No matter how much ammo one has, a thousand tiney little rodents make pretty tough targets.

At least with larger animals you can mostly block their routes of attack

[djblocker88]

I do have a bulldozer and lots and lots and lots and lots of ammo but idk a reason what really got to me was there are BAJILLIONS (not a real number, i know) of rats and field mice around where I live (farm townish suburb) so if they did feast on the undead and in turn became infected I feel like human population on this planet would be screwed, of course only if they horded together, which if zombie stories have taught us anything they will. No matter how much ammo one has, a thousand tiney little rodents make pretty tough targets.

At least with larger animals you can mostly block their routes of attack

This makes me want to have a Flame Thrower/Liquid Nitrogen sprayer.. with an infinite ammo cheat.

[TN-Shooter]

Hollywood zombies are after one thing and one thing only. Braaaiiinnnss!!!

I doubt they would waste their time going after a peanut sized brain in dogs, cats, and rats.

[djblocker88]

Hollywood zombies are after one thing and one thing only. Braaaiiinnnss!!!

I doubt they would waste their time going after a peanut sized brain in dogs, cats, and rats.

Now whales would be in trouble. Zombie Whales...

[Pooter]

Depends on the digestive enzymes from animal to animal.
Asians for example lack the neccessary enzymes to digest Alcohol fully,
and as a result suffer an allergic reaction to called the Asian flush,
where their faces turn red and either a heat or itching feeling is accompanied.

Certain animals can eat other poisonous animals and not be affected,
whereas if another eats it, it will die.

I think you would have to study animal endocrinology to understand it better.