 NORWAY RATS
The Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus, also called
the brown rat or sewer rat) is a destructive pest found
in urban and suburban neighborhoods. These rodents
eat and contaminate food, damage buildings and other
property by their gnawing and burrowing, and may spread
diseases that affect people and pets.
Recognizing Rat Infestations
The presence of rats can be detected by droppings or
evidence of fresh gnawing. Tracks can be seen in mud
and on dusty surfaces. Runways and burrows may be found
next to buildings, along fences or railroad tracks,
and under low vegetation and debris.
Rat Facts
Norway rats are husky, brownish rodents that weigh about
11 ounces. They are about 13 to 18 inches long including
the 6 to 8 1/2 inch tail. Their fur is coarse and mostly
brown with scattered black on the upper surfaces. The
underside is typically grey to yellowish-white.
Rats will eat nearly any type of food, but they prefer
high-quality foods such as meat and fresh grain. Rats
require 1/2 to 1 fluid ounce of water daily when feeding
on dry food. Rats have keen taste, hearing and sense
of smell. They will climb to find food or shelter, and
they can gain entrance to a building through any opening
larger than 1/2 inch across.
Rats have litters of 6 to 12 young, which are born 21
to 23 days after mating. Young rats reach reproductive
maturity in about three months. Breeding is most active
in spring and fall. The average female has four to six
litters per year. Rats can live for up to 18 months,
but most die before they are one year old.
Rat Prevention and Control
Sanitation. Poor sanitation and the presence
of garbage help rats to survive in residential areas.
Good sanitation will effectively limit the number of
rats that can survive in and around the home. This
involves good housekeeping, proper storage and handling
of food materials and refuse, and elimination of rodent
shelter (harborage). Outside dog pens must be properly
maintained to reduce potential rat problems. Removing
clutter around homes allows inspection for signs of
rats. Good sanitary practices will not eliminate rats
under all conditions, but will make the environment
less suitable for them to thrive and enhance control
efforts.
Rat-Proof Construction; The most successful
and permanent form of rat control is to "build them
out" by making their access to structures impossible.
Ideally, all places where food is stored, processed or
used should be rodent-proof. Store bulk foods, bird
seed and dry pet food in metal cans with tight-fitting
lids.
Seal any openings larger than 1/4 inch to exclude both
rats and mice. Openings where utility conduits enter
buildings should be sealed tightly with metal or concrete.
If rats have infested the interior of a structure, trapping
should precede baiting efforts. This will enable us
to remove as many bodies as possible that would otherwise
create potential odor problems. Baiting within a structure
is a great way to control the last few, difficult to
catch rats. However, dead rats smell terrible and there
is no knowing where they will succumb to the bait. Murphy’s
Law says it will be a place that will be difficult to
remove the body (and odor) from. |