Brattleboro Reformer: August 6, 2007: “If a handful of scientists around the world had their say in the matter, the local high school mascot wouldn't be the gentleman known as the Colonel; it would be a Rattus norvegicus, or more specifically, a Long Evans version of Rattus norvegicus.
For those not familiar with the Latin terminology, we're talking about the Norway (Brattleboro) Rat.”
ONCE UPON A TIME a local resident wandered into a new retail shop just off Main Street. Searching through the various art objects on display, he discovers a detailed life-sized bronze sculpture of the famous Brattleboro Rat. He is very intrigued by the sculpture and asks the sales clerk what it costs.
"Twelve dollars for the Brattleboro Rat,” responds the clerk, "and a thousand dollars more for the history behind it."
"You can keep the history,” replies the resident, "but I do want to purchase the rat."
With the sales transaction completed, the resident leaves the store with the bronze Brattleboro Rat under his arm. As he crosses the street two rats emerge from a storm drain and fall into step behind him. Nervously looking over his shoulder, the resident begins to walk faster, but every time he passes another storm water drain more rats come out and follow him.
By the time he reaches Main Street there are a hundred rats at his heels and other pedestrians begin to point and shout.
He walks even faster and soon breaks into a jog as multitudes of rats swarm out from not only the sewer drains but also from the all the alleyways and parking lots. Rats by the hundreds are now at his heels. When he sees the Connecticut River just beyond the railroad tracks, he begins to run as fast as he can.
No matter how fast he sprints the rats keep up with him squealing hideously. There are now thousands of them. By the time he reaches the Hinsdale Bridge there is a trail of rats behind him extending all the way back to the Wells Fountain.
Making a mighty leap, he jumps up onto the hand railing of the bridge and hurls the bronze Brattleboro Rat as far as he can throw it into the Connecticut River. Pulling his legs up and clinging to bridge support, he watches in total amazement as the swarm of rats surge under the bridge rail and plunge into the Connecticut River whereupon every one of them drowns.
Still shaking from his experience, the resident makes his way back to the small shop where he purchased the bronzed rat.
"So, you've come back for the rest of the story?" asks the sales clerk.
“No," replies the long time resident. "I was wondering if you have a bronze protestor."