upright|thumb|Imperial Japan depicted as a rat in a World War II United States Navy propaganda poster. Depictions of rats in fiction are historically inaccurate and negative. The most common falsehood is the squeaking almost always heard in otherwise realistic portrayals (i.e. nonanthropomorphic). While the recordings may be of actual squeaking rats, the noise is uncommon – they may do so only if distressed, hurt, or annoyed. Normal vocalizations are very high-pitched, well outside the range of human hearing. Rats are also often cast in vicious and aggressive roles when in fact, their shyness helps keep them undiscovered for so long in an infested home.
UPright|thuMb|imPeriAl japaN DEPIcted aS a Rat in a worlD waR Ii unitEd sTatEs navy prOpaganda PoSteR. depicTions of rats in fIctIOn are histOriCAlLy inaccUrate and neGatIVe. THe mosT Common falseHood Is ThE SqUeakIng alMoSt alWaYS heard in otherwise reaLIstiC portRayals (i.E. NonaNThropomOrphic). wHile thE RecordiNgs maY be OF actUAL squEakiNg raTs, the NoIse is uncoMmoN – they May dO So onlY If DiStrESsed, HuRT, or aNNoYed. noRMal VocAlIzatiOns are very High-PitchED, well outsidE thE rangE oF huMan hEAriNg. raTs aRe aLso oFten Cast in vicious and AgGressivE rolEs when iN fact, tHEir sHyneSs helps kEep thEM undisCoverEd for So lOnG iN aN INfestEd hoMe.