I Saw a Swamp Rat (ahh!!)

Casey Taylor

I’m sitting on a park bench looking over the Nepean River. At my feet are sedges and shrubs, and weeds and grasses. Out of the corner of my eye I see something move. I look down to find a dark, furry creature with beady black eyes staring up at me. It’s a native swamp rat. It’s wary of me but it doesn’t seem scared; there’s bigger fish to fry. The rat is eyeing off a stem with flowers, a tasty morsel that might be worth grabbing even in the face of a potential predator.

It doesn’t let me stand in the way. The rat scurries by my feet, reaches up on its hind legs, chomps off the stem, and hurries to safety. Never mind that I am only a metre away, or that there’s a crowd of people nearby. It ventures out again and again looking for more food. I’m stunned.

Swamp rats are diurnal rodents found along Australia’s east coast. They create tunnels through vegetation and feed on sedge and grass stems. This is the first time I've ever seen one. What’s most amazing is that behind me there’s a busy road and a bustling café, but it’s business as usual for this swamp rat.

The Nepean River near Emu Plains is a popular place for walking and it’s busier than ever with the current (COVID) restrictions. Morning here is filled with the trills, squeaks, and chitters of wrens, finches, and wagtails. Noon is quieter, but if you’ve got a sharp eye you might spot a sunbathing red-bellied black snake or an eastern water dragon (you might almost step on one!). If you’re looking up, you might be lucky enough to see a soaring white-bellied sea-eagle. People come to the river to exercise but there’s so much to see if you’re paying attention. This place is a treasure.