One of the planets' best rat-catching animals is hunting and eating a rat heron technique

A big bird that eats a variety of smaller animals is hunting and eating a rat. The rat is trapped in the beak of a heron, and it's trying to escape before it becomes a meal for the heron. Many animals hunt rats, but the heron has a hunting style like no other, and their rat-catching abilities are a sight to behold. The grey heron is a species of meat-eating predatory wading birds that live on and around water; they are waterbirds that don't swim but wade through the water. The heron is a hunting bird that uses its long, sharp beak to catch animals while silently and patiently stalking its intended prey; they are water waders with long legs traversing their aquatic domains. The heron attacks and feeds on other animals because they are carnivorous predators, top avian predators, and exceptional hunters of all kinds of prey animals that live and breed worldwide. Herons have an incredible instinct to attack and eat other animals. This feeding behaviour has evolved over millions of years to enable them to have an extensive menu of wild protein-rich animal meat food. The herons are flying birds with a very diverse diet of meat from hunting and eating other animals. They especially like dining on water-based waterbirds, waterfowl baby birds, rats, rodents, other small mammals and birds and insects, and a wide variety of marine and aquatic creatures living in and around saltwater and freshwater. Food eaten without chewing is how the heron and all birds eat their food because they have no teeth for crushing, and dining on big or small portions by swallowing in gulps is how they feed. The heron can be seen actively hunting and eating animal babies throughout the breeding seasons, especially when they live and breed in the herons' natural habitats. Herons will hunt and eat smaller birds and bird babies, hatchlings, nestlings, and bird eggs, regularly raiding throughout the bird breeding seasons when the heron dines and eats. The herons are avians living and breeding in almost every habitat close to water throughout the world's coastal and inland waterways.

[@catfamily2980]

What a relaxing and pleasant sound from the water.

[@Dan-n-Duke-jr2ic]

That's what you got out of this?

[@catfamily2980]

Apart from letting the nature doing what it has to do, I enjoy listening to rhythm

[@Dan-n-Duke-jr2ic]

@@catfamily2980 i know, i was just messin with you bud, take care

[@catfamily2980]

👍🏼😊 Cheers

[@catfamily2980]

The rat 🐀 was relaxing and enjoying the sound prior being targeted by the sniper.

[@appletreeinc.8425]

Rat: "Halt stalwart stranger if you let me go I will grant you one wish" Heron: "I wish for you to be my dinner"

[@CoreyT127]

Any animal who's diet consists of rats should automatically be protected!

[@AndiGravity]

I have bad news for you. Rats are cannibalistic. If there's plenty of food to go around and the mothers are capable of raising all the babies they give birth to, rats will keep the cannibalism to a minimum-- at least among the living-- because there's no need for it, though they're not at all above eating any dead rats they happen upon, if that's the choicest bit of food they can find in the area. However, rats use cannibalism as a form of both population and resource control. If food starts running short in general, the biggest, fittest rats will start killing and eating the smaller ones, and if a mother rat doesn't think she can raise all her pups successfully, she eats the most expendable of her offspring until she has her litter pared down to a size she can successfully manage. That means a rat's diet often consists of rats, sooooo....

[@jamaaldaynitelong8367]

🥂 Here Here!!

[@missasinenomine]

I agree! I hare rats!

[@missasinenomine]

Hate. (& typos!)

[@loktom4068]

@@AndiGravity 😱😵

[@Emidretrauqe]

I simultaneously admire and loathe the heron for being so efficient at hunting. It was literally impossible for the rat to even hurt the heron, much less save itself. It was completely 100% doomed.

[@infinitydreamzz]

The rat can probably hurt the heron, but being at the end of a long beak there is nothing it could do.

[@thebuddha4208]

I’ve been watching Discovery Channel and animal planet my whole life pretty much I’ve never seen footage like this incredible 😱😱😱🤯

[@Samuelfish2k]

Nicholas Pilto That’s because Discovery Channel is PC, toned down for millennials & pussies.

[@danielsaputra5608]

Nicolas pito Why you ask? Its because they keep repeating same progams each fucking weeks. Even months....

[@Samuelfish2k]

Nicholas Pito😂

[@AlahuSnackbar]

Yup

[@piedramultiaristas8573]

@@Samuelfish2k Probably yes.

[@lambda494]

Heron is like "Go ahead and struggle, take your time. I'll wait."

[@Slick-Wit-it]

I thought then Heron was trying to drown it

[@stevenhowe432]

Stone cold killer!

[@Spooqi]

Yeah, herons are surprisingly patient and methodical hunters. They don't need a hooked beak, sharp talons, or a strong bite force to kill their prey

[@WhuDhat]

Rat had some fight in him, was definitely biting back a few time

[@DrAnne-mc8er]

Once every blue moon I get diverted to a video on KZbin which makes trawling through all the other dross worthwhile. A fascinating video that showed me something in the world I would never otherwise have been able to witness. Really well filmed too. Many thanks Paul.

[@ABCDuwachui]

Itzdat Managgen omg please Fuck me

[@piedramultiaristas8573]

Ninja turtles doesnt exist poor master.

[@paulanthony5274]

Thanks

[@pablohablo3256]

Remarkable how he works his way, little by little, from gripping a hind leg in his beak, around the belly, to a foreleg, and eventually he has it by the neck. Rats are good at wriggling free and have a good bite, too- quite a feat. It was pretty well strangled at the end, had to go in head-first so the lay of its fur didn't impede progress down the gullet. A lot going on- thanks for the video.

[@bencarter1666]

Well spotted, a very careful patient predator indeed

[@GoldenGrenadier]

Ben Carter lol I can't even be bothered to wait until my food cools down to eat it.

[@deleteexistence6175]

@@GoldenGrenadier just keep it moving in your mouth, I do that with soup everytime.

[@tiffanybatcheller-harris522]

I was curious if the heron would hold the rat underwater until it drowned. Would’ve been quicker and easier. XD

[@haseo8244]

Clearly had a ton of experiences.

[@warsocki]

I was waiting for the Heron to realize it could eat the rat much quicker if it would drown it first.

[@samwh.9611]

Yeah me too! But I figured herons don't understand the concept of drowning since they usually eat fish!

[@MichaelWilson-ep8pc]

@@samwh.9611 or maybe the fact that it’s not a human.

[@Vasonviper]

@@MichaelWilson-ep8pc lots of animals drown there prey

[@MichaelWilson-ep8pc]

@@Vasonviper I never said that’s not the case. I’m saying animals don’t reason like humans . They live off instincts alone. So if it’s not apart of their normal day to day instinct , they kill how them know best. Usually herons eat fish as their main meal . So they would never reason like a man or woman and say oooh this is a more efficient way if I drown it

[@user-ro9md9wp3j]

@@MichaelWilson-ep8pc smooth brain take. The only significant difference between human brains and other animal brains is the capacity for language. There’s no reason a bird can’t understand drowning, it probably just used the method it knows best so it’s prey wouldn’t escape.

[@EthanAnthony907]

much respect to my little mammal friend, he fought hard, totally outmatched, god bless.

[@lumox7]

What did that rat say to that heron after he got caught? ''You wouldn't shit me, would you?''

[@jenersharma]

This Heron is very hygienic. Cleans his food before eating.

[@marka6187]

Jener Sharma that's not why he does this

[@franniebanani6532]

Dipping sauce

[@hunterjenkins11]

PRO/NRA Trump2020 most bland dipping sauce flavor ever...

[@leebrown1779]

Hunter Jenkins According yo who? You have no concept of the bird's taste.

[@bencarter1666]

They all seem to do it. I think it is to saturate the fur so it slides down easier. They seem to take time and prepare for swallowing

[@videowatcher4006]

Another rat bites the dust, and another rat gone, another rat gone, another rat bites the dust! All jokes aside, great piece of filming and thanks for sharing it.

[@AKSBSU]

Practically every predator, from the tiny least weasel to a crocodile, eats rats, yet rats are still everywhere.

[@TSPH1992]

Quality content

[@floa3355]

LMFAO

[@ziggyschumann5284]

I never knew herons were so badass, eating their prey while its alive and kicking.

[@rosewaters2533]

I think asian ancestors learnt to use chopsticks by watching the heron.

[@kylekissack4633]

Lol that's an interesting thought

[@kylekissack4633]

Could very well be true

[@andrewwolflethecatfishmast790]

Nope not true. I'm part Asian. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE CHOPSTICKS!!!!!!

[@boommer3564]

@@andrewwolflethecatfishmast790 are you an ancestor?

[@andrewwolflethecatfishmast790]

No. Growing up here with my family I never used chopsticks. My Dad is a American and my mom us Filipino. They met when my DAD was in the navy.

[@dixondiaz8448]

The bird sure gives the rat lots of time to think about all the mistakes he’s made.

[@DamazViccar]

Wow, that's a horrifying way to die. The footage is great, though.

[@desertmulehunter]

@Lies Bus chill out, why you so angry?

[@ytyt3922]

Lies Bus clearly by the time the rat was swallowed it was either dead or unconscious. If unconscious it will die quickly of asphyxiation within the bird’s gut. Maybe you need therapy.

[@tony001212]

@Lies Bus are you serious ? You've to be kidding, aren't you ? Mice are a worldwide plague, I virtually impossible of killing off, no matter how many of then you kill there will be always thousands more, birds however are endangered, why do mice exist if not for feeding others animals more importants....by the way the word " torture" is applicable only on humans, look for psychological help asap.

[@rocksteady231]

Lies Bus you've given me all the "data" I need to profile you boy. You may be able to hide from yourself, but you can't hide from me. I never said there was shame in empathy. However hiding behind narcissism and your weak-minded inability to acknowledge the reality of the planet on which you live is, in fact, shameful. Also, insulting others for your mental and physical shortcomings is sad and quite pathetic. "Civilization's" cracks open up and swallow idiots like you every day. I would feel bad for you, in particular, if you hadn't been so nasty and insulting to so many other people. Be as weak and scared as you want, but don't criticize others for your pathetic existence.

[@yakeemgordon3187]

Yt Yt bro the bullshit aside the lil fucker was still alive. Herons are known for swallowing things while they are still alive

[@MmmBepBoo]

This is what it's like to get eaten by a dinosaur.

[@AlexanderRodriguez-ni4kt]

That's crazy I was thinking the same thing

[@johnculver6994]

Actually no. Theropods had teeth and you know that. Besides they have fossil evidence of teeth marks on dinosaur herbivores such as hadrosaurs. More like bite, rip, and swallow whole.

[@henrydecker8989]

They call them dragons before we killed them all off

[@readmelancholystrumpetmaster]

Or a heron!

[@stevebri9161]

Except dinosaurs have teeth

[@mixey01]

The Heron is like a T-Rex with wings

[@WalkrFilms]

I was thinking more velociraptor

[@ΝικοςΠΑΟΚ-κ1ψ]

How about Archaeopteryx? (with his own wings).

[@uppercut2246]

Only Dinosaurs never existed! Sorry, but I wasn't the one that lied to you. There has never been a change in kind.

[@iamleoooo]

@@uppercut2246 yes they did

[@darthtator3549]

@@uppercut2246 only a religious idiot believes the lies that was told with no evidence

[@Robotdad474]

I remember seeing a comment on one of these heron years ago saying something along the lines of ‘the river is his dipping sauce’ and it’s stuck with me ever since 😂

[@scottmccluremcclure3916]

We were fishing once and we spooked one of these out of a tree and it took a dump on my Dad

[@bodenhamling5728]

Lol

[@pacuttr1]

Now that's a civic-minded heron, helping to clean up the city of vermin

[@GodOfVictory501]

Maybe the city council can train them to get rid of the junkies (Am I right, Dubliners?)

[@jrodowens]

Dublin have much of a heroin use problem? If so, I'm guessing its largely teen and 20+ year olds from around the country who live homeless downtown.. likely clustered around welfare 'hubs' like needle exchange sites? Like I say, that is just a guess but one based on personal observation of metros in the United States and Canada, specifically Portland, Seattle & Vancouver. Interestingly enough, in my hometown city in Texas (approx. 100k people) heroin was virtually unheard of until a few years ago. Cartels sensed a business opportunity with the restricting of opiod availability that began 7 or 8 years ago and filled the 'need' of the suburban opiate addicts here. I'm not sure to what degree it is happening these days, as addicts there do not have the visible presence they do in a large metro.

[@jrodowens]

btw, just assumed you meant heroin users by 'junkies' but its possible you were using the word in a more-encompassing manner, i.e. all drugs

[@janebook294]

HERON ARE THE VERMIN

[@charles-antoinebruneau9272]

@@jrodowens you're completely out of subject. Big facepalm...

[@alan30189]

Needs a beer to chase it down. LOL We need more herons in this world. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="94">1:34</a> Waterboarding! LOL

[@hardToSignUpHere]

+alan30189 drain water would do this time :)

[@laszlotibbe8479]

Lollollollollollollollollollollol

[@webwillie1]

Rat's like..."This ain't gonna be good".

[@stevebri9161]

bill martin haha

[@timothytaggart3289]

Ain't?

[@lauranolan991]

bill martin ya

[@oldmanfromoc7684]

When he smelled fish breath!

[@BlackMamba1985]

She uses the river as a dipping souse lol

[@jamesweekley1087]

Maybe to drown the rat so that it's dead when it is swallowed.

[@rolandfrancis7066]

@E. Nonce wet , the feathers or fur stick to the body of the prey thus making it easier to swallow.

[@enjoythemoment8973]

Life's struggles are for real, remember this when you think you are having a bad day

[@zzz11666]

They need to leave a few herons in New York's subway to clean up the rat population.

[@bencarter1666]

They are notorious where I live for stealing carp and finding ways around pond netting. Beautiful animals in person

[@lgbtqiarights]

zr de then the herons would be the problem

[@jamesvickers9476]

NY rats are to big for them to swallow...

[@notyou8716]

I prefer the rats in New York to the people.

[@cashouttbready6529]

There Are some herons inside of parks in NYC we need some stoats

[@Khamomil]

RIP ratty rat! He fought bravely to the very end.

[@Aliandrin]

She. And I do believe she was lactating.

[@blackred1032]

+Aliandrin what's that mean?

[@evanmccarvill7020]

It means she was a mommy rat. And that Heron just made some orphans.

[@blackred1032]

Evan McCarvill where does she have kids? What gonna happen to them what's she doing in a tree?

[@sneepsnorp1404]

I breed rats so i'm all like noooooooooooo but at the same time I know that heron had to eat.

[@jaysin197800]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="407">6:47</a> me thinking in a mobster accent “Is he just toying with this rat bastard?” 🤣😂

[@rayso11]

WOW, That footage is amazing.... 😉 😌 😌

[@henrydecker8989]

I love how it cleans its food

[@k.i.i.3699]

The heron’s grasp on the rat was very clear at the end of the video but at the beginning of the video it was hard to tell how it had such a solid grasp on the rat.

[@carolynallisee2463]

Since herons eat a lot of fish and amphibians, I wouldn't bee too surprised to learn there were tiny little serrations along the edges of its beak, both top and bottom, to act like teeth. And if those serrations are backwards pointing, once the heron had got a grip on the rat, there really was only one way that rat was going... down!

[@patkaczmarek7362]

God's perfect engineering at work. Awesome beyond our comprehension.

[@unomenah]

@@patkaczmarek7362 mashaallah

[@rusenrai7783]

Moral of the story - before eating ur food wash it properly 😐

[@gregpasq]

It wasn't washing it. The bird does this for lubrication...

[@shadowfoxhd6798]

@@gregpasq r/whoosh

[@Clandestine0814]

Herons want it wet before eating lmao

[@piedramultiaristas8573]

Ninja turtles doesnt exist poor master.

[@GuyWets-zy5yt]

In this case, lube it, it will slipping much better !

[@AfroPoli]

Absolutely fascinating how it uses speed, gravity and the resistance of water to its advantage.

[@rememberingjazziedog1112]

Never thought of a Heron eating rats before but im glad they do

[@jaxxonbalboa3243]

Rat is like "DON'T DUNK ME BRO!".

[@guavaburst]

Rat: you're breaking my arm dude! Heron: it gets far worse than that...

[@FollowThomas]

Wow, he got it! These birds eat anything, it doesn't matter how big it is. Cool! 😎

[@DanHarkless_Halloween_YTPs_etc]

Holy cow! Dinosaurs: 1, Mammals: 0. You can really see the adaptive advantage of that beak over a fleshy jaw given how the heron eats -- the rat can scratch and gnaw at it all it wants, but it's not going to do any good. I don't feel sorry for rats too often, but that did not look like a fun ordeal. Not an easy operation to go from "caught" to "swallowed" with this big struggling morsel. Given the heron's behavior of dipping its prey in the water to presumably make it go down more easily (?), you'd sort of think some of them would have accidentally discovered that you can drown land prey for easy swallowing if you dunk them for longer, and passed it down via instinct or culture. Anyhow, nice going capturing this! Out of interest, what software are you using for camera deshaking? It's interesting how it slo-mos the clip when it takes effect, and how it clips the borders in one step, rather than doing a zoom. I'm currently going back through all my old videos and remastering them with Gunnar Thalin's Deshaker plugin for VirtualDub. It can achieve pretty amazing and seamless results, but it generally requires a lot of handholding for each different clip (and you have to be careful about color space conversions).

[@jrodowens]

It's not often that I read such an informed and interesting comment on YT. Your curiosity and level of knowledge (specifically, evolutionary biology) must be roughly comparable to mine* because I had much the same thought(s) while watching this video. I wouldn't be surprised if some heron (or heron population) somewhere hasn't figured out the drowning tactic and put it to regular use. Based on what I've seen in the literature and media, tool-use and 'culture' among primates & cetaceans appears to stay localized within groups or geographic populations, even when a species is global or regionally widespread. Makes me wonder to what degree diffusion of culture is restricted among intelligent species, and if complex language - or something else - is the adaptation that changes the paradigm for human, so to speak. As for that beak.. I winced everytime the rat bit it and kept wondering how long it would take for a rat that size to gnaw through at least some outer portion (the keratin layer?) and do some real damage to the heron. I never noticed any indication that the bird had sustained any injury or the rat had struck any vascularized-tissue. Amazing how tough keratin is... *likely a degree of magnitude greater than mine, if I'm being honest..

[@noctusowl]

Sorry, 3 years later, but I believe some herons do drown prey. But this is their normal behaviour. They already do much by changing the menu since their natural prey are fish and amphibian. But that means they do not expect prey to drawn, like crocodiles do.

[@More-Space-In-Ear]

Fascinating footage. Thank you for sharing 👍🏼

[@Hannah-tg8hw]

The water keeps flowing like: Just minding my own business.

[@velvety2528]

I love the way herons keep their head perfectly still before lunging like a spear

[@DrCalviny]

MASTER SPLINTER NOOOOO!!!!

[@OneUltimateWarrior]

#Done X D

[@propjam2]

+DrCalviny Genius!

[@amaroq69]

Calviny was waitin’ for Leo, Mike, Don & Ralph to come to the rescue...😐😑😏

[@guyfriedman295]

Lol there is a reply for every year here (until my comment ruined it)

[@piedramultiaristas8573]

Ninja turtles doesnt exist poor master.

[@sanghoonlee5171]

Scenes like this remind me that birds are basically feathered reptiles.

[@114wildfire]

Sanghoon Lee Birds are birds, not reptiles.

[@1977moonchild1]

mike jones The birds closest living relative are crocodilians. They were once featherless and resembled two legged dinosaurs.

[@114wildfire]

quacka 1003 Well, that's what you were probably taught but it's not true.

[@1977moonchild1]

mike jones It's what I know. Birds are not just birds. All you have to do is look at the feet and legs of an eagle or any bird of prey to know that it's once belonged to the dinosaurs. Unless all these evolutionists and biologists like Attenborough and Hawkins are wrong! I've seen enough programs on wildlife to know I'm right.

[@1977moonchild1]

mike jones And if you think I'm wrong, where do you think birds came from and how did they evolve? Or do you think the earth is flat?!

[@ZomBeeNature]

😲 OH MY GOSH! Herons are tougher than I thought! And it only used just enough effort to disorient the rat and dunk it at the right time for the rat to die before it swallowed it! A master!

[@carpaccio112tv2]

Herrons are tough? The rat is literally 1/100 of the herrons size pogchamp

[@workaholicrohit]

That background music of water flowing..just amazing 👏👏

[@hera7884]

Rat: *struggles* Heron: are you hot? Have some water love

[@momthegreatest]

Excellent..very rare video..how cunning the HERON IS...

[@VirtualMark2]

Wow, amazing footage. That rat really struggled, but it didn't stand a chance.

[@Chickenworm9394]

The rat would never give in without a fight

[@bikerboy3k]

I was expecting the whole time for the heron to finish off the rat by impaling him with his beak.

[@dreadfulspiller8766]

The rats like" I don't care if I get eaten but i hate baths".

[@richiel17]

Our distant ancestors versus dinosaurs.

[@firstdondiego]

That rat is not going to enjoy the rest of it's weekend, that's for sure.

[@SeverinoSE]

And a pint of Guinness... err... stream water to wash it down!

[@zzzzz77771]

What a fascinating video, good catch! Was it patience that got the shot, or luck?

[@zzzzz77771]

***** Great work!

[@davidsimmons8740]

what kind of question is that

[@zzzzz77771]

+David Simmons what kind of a comment is that.

[@davidsimmons8740]

+SoWhat83 well herons are very patient and very skilled. catching a rat one be one of its easier targets. it didnt get lucky,they do this everyday of their lives. just didn't know if you were serious or not.

[@zzzzz77771]

David Simmons Learn to read.

[@tantertizzle3680]

The rat: damn man... I gotta watch these birds to??🤔🙄

[@imlivingyourlife7354]

I thoroughly enjoyed that. Never hit pause once.

[@wparo]

no diet coke with that?

[@ضميرالحق]

Seven up is better.

[@ضميرالحق]

سفن اب يمكن احسن هههههههههههههههه

[@ضميرالحق]

الحيوان مثل الامير ابو منشار المجرم الهارب هههههههههههههههه

[@floa3355]

LMFAO

[@rthelionheart]

Nah nigga, a Corona is what's needed with it.

[@sgsmozart]

By just submerging the rat in the water for 30 seconds....the end would have been sooner.

[@alberttopor6560]

yea that is kind of why they are extinct

[@HumbraHongryMHC]

Duh Bird Brain

[@HangHangTwee]

Steven S rats can hold their breath for a Long time

[@xLilPuddinTater]

Yeah I'll make sure to run that by the heron and see what he thinks. I'll let you know what he says

[@GoogleUser-yj1wy]

No sh1t Einstein 😂

[@saulosilva2316]

Sir, this is one beautiful capture you made.

[@typingcat]

Did you just assume the gender of the uploader?

[@kelleyeidem667]

"Slowly I turn...inch by inch...step by step!" I think herons must like being on camera because every other predator seems to slip behind the bushes, but the heron is like "Hold my beer!"

[@franceleeparis37]

If that was a thinking rat, he would now be thinking ..’oh Sh*t... it’s a Heron, I’m done for... better say my prayers’...

[@jamillagreen7999]

Great video, I love to see a rat or mouse getting done in. I hate them both!! Good Job Heron!!

[@josephfox9221]

sad to see, but the world is built on a sea of blood

[@californiabrotherhood8114]

Joseph Fox im glad it’s killing the rat. Those animals carry diseases that can wipe humanity or destroys crops causing prices to go up.

[@sunsinger7479]

@@californiabrotherhood8114 I also reply to comments from 4 years ago

[@carolynallisee2463]

That's the way of life. Everything gets eaten by something else... even we do at the end.

[@Vutsman1]

The Rat almost got away. But like wrestling, one wrong move and dead.

[@doclew28]

he dipping that rat like theres ranch dressing in the river... LOL

[@paxmule]

Great catch bird! Great video Paul! Thank you for sharing

[@derwolfistda]

At least it looks like the heron does not know, he could easily drown the rat in 2-3 minutes.

[@samwh.9611]

It's because he usually eats fish so he doesn't understand the concept of drowning!

[@buckwheat2599]

Brilliant footage....

[@BlackMamba1985]

The mice is getting smaller and smaller after each dipping into water

[@Streiht_Menace]

The soothing sounds of a babbling brook

[@idavo]

Amazing footage - thought I was watching Countryfile for a second - I was mesmerized watching this. Nothing but thanks for sharing this.

[@crimsonking6773]

that large beak is such a hard counter to small rodents, i've thought it over and short of nawing its own arm or leg off that rat wasn't going to get away, larger prehistoric birds most have had a heyday during there prime.

[@ZC.Andrew]

Crimson King I enjoy your use of the term "hard counter" :)

[@chriswesterfield2042]

"The heron is not known as a bird of prey, but it is a predatory hunting bird." EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE.

[@gshrdy5415]

It means it doesn't get eaten by any other birds/animals mostly, it hunts and eats other animals, fish etc.,

[@gshrdy5415]

@Terry Melvin , he is asking about the difference between predator and prey, Heron is not known as prey.

[@matt8863]

I'd be more pissed off by the Heron dunking me in the water whenever it felt like it, than scared to death of the thing trying to consume me alive.

[@antonioalbul00]

rats can swim so i guess it was a way to confuse him before killing it

[@leevan2095]

No I think it's more for lubrication. To make the meal go down easier.

[@toddbennett7157]

Inane.

[@kelvikelv5322]

Rat likely thought he was starring in a Jurassic Park sequel !

[@Afro408]

I just love watching herons hunting and I especially liked watching our Nankeen night Herrons, in the evening standing statue still at the edge of the water and then the lightning fast strike on the quarry. The fact that they will eat anything that moves makes them extremely successful in any habitat. One thing I find strange, is the fact that they don’t seem to try and drown the wriggling prey and therefore make it easier to handle. Maybe they like the feeling of the animal kicking all the way down! 🤣👍👏👏

[@Lalo6169]

Love happy endings 🖤

[@raayderr]

Heron dipping the rat in the water like it's sauce

[@2.1.4-bk7np]

They would be well used in nyc where they have way to much rats 😂

[@jastallion45]

Ooooo lawwwd he trying to kill me lawd, save me... Save me lawwd.... 😂 #<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="336">5:36</a> the rat goes.. No boss I'm not letting go of your mouth.. Nope nope 😭🤣

[@PFNewsScienceResearch]

This is man's real best friend.

[@Train-train-h9k]

never been so captivated with so little action... HERONS are masters of torture...fascinating.

[@profd65]

You're a psycopath.

[@Train-train-h9k]

@@profd65 😅No, i just hate rats.

[@alexduran5605]

Not as bad as seeing the baby duckling get eaten for some reason lol.

[@4exgold]

i enjoyed both.....good entertainment all round

[@Smokinjo7208]

🦆 are beautiful

[@PlanetRockJesus]

Herons are brutal predators. My favorite bird.

[@wuddude1599]

Not too intelligent though. It could have easily drown the rat in a minute or 2. Drowning it would have been faster, easier to eat and there would be zero chance of the rat ripping a hole in its stomach.

[@watutman]

I like pelicans. I've seen them float at a standstill on a breeze, looking down at the river.

[@thusi1900]

Heron: mmm had a delicious meal after long time...Life is good...

[@FortuneSeek3rz]

Hope it was dead. Rats can chew holes in the stomachs of most anything and find their way outside...very painful.

[@tuggerjb]

What amazing footage. Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

[@kami0205]

herons should eat more rats rather than ducklings :(

[@boing3925]

Oh, now you're favoring cute little ducklings over rats? Wow, you truly care about nature, little girl. :/

[@franciscoaraujo7033]

Ducklings are sooo cute, they dont deserve to die, but rats do.

[@boing3925]

*+Francisco Araújo* Were you being serious, or sarcastic?

[@renarddubois940]

Francisco Araújo you are an awful person

[@ufos22]

A human being would have drowned the rat.

[@taxiuniversum916]

+Chad Hurley That might have taken longer, though. Apparently, rats can hold their breath for a very long time.

[@ufos22]

taxiuniversum I am so glad that you told me that. Here in South Florida we have “Herons” that stand 14 (fourteen) feet tall. My neighbor's child was eaten by a heron. Or an alligator we’re not sure.

[@mikefoley3785]

+Chad Hurley ---Herons normally feed on fish and crustaceans. Therefore, it doesn't occur to them to drown something they catch. Fish and crustaceans don't drown.

[@ufos22]

Mike Foley I think I was quoting whimsically about how superior humans are to birds. But it was just a stupid comment. But I still believe that a large heron ate my neighbors young son.

[@pauljackson2409]

+Chad Hurley That's what I was thinking. Just drown it. I'm sure that it would have taken just a couple of minutes

[@RUdigitized]

SPLINTER NOOOOO!

[@michaelgoodwin7885]

shout up bitch

[@hellooutoffaceplease4782]

nno your mom

[@tomc6407]

What a great piece of filming! Well done to the cameraman.

[@kaf890890]

That staring, dinosaur eye on the heron! I almost rooted for the tiny, terrified tetrapod.

[@CabhanListis]

Rats are not predators.

[@kris2fari]

+Cabhan Listis Oh yes they are Cahban! And effective ones at that with a wide range of prey.

[@CabhanListis]

kris2fari I have no idea why I wrote that.

[@hardToSignUpHere]

+kris2fari not really they can be carnivorous but they really prefer to eat grain have they had a choice

[@hardToSignUpHere]

+kris2fari WP describes predators: "...The key characteristic of predation however is the predator's direct impact on the prey population.".

[@armandoramirez5987]

+hardToSignUpHere Uhm, yes, exactly what rats are, lol.

[@aspopulvera9130]

the rat be like "ouch! my nut!, ouch! my arm!, ouch! my head!, ouch! my right arm!" really agonizing for the rat

[@Sasser2015]

This reminds me... I really wish McDonald's would bring back their River Rat dipping sauce.

[@VivekGhimire]

This heron is so much intelligent than my coworkers.

[@robertbihn3005]

right away the rat screams , ... ya got me by the nuts

[@desertmaverick7567]

I love the way the Heron plays with the rat in its vice grip beak. Tiring it out. Then finally crushes the rats neck and strangles it then swallows it while it's still alive!

[@bradbyron3620]

I've seen Heron and Egret eating fish before. They flip it around until the fins are facing up so they slide down easier. Amazing Birds

[@Gordonsmusic911]

Excellent video work!

[@jjjmi4414]

He attacc He protecc But most importantly, he leaves no hecc

[@basmatine]

From Michigan here. We have Blue Herons locally. Majestic birds, I’ve seen them spear frogs with their beaks and then swallow them whole.