Rats
roofrat
Rats
Rats are one of the most destructive pests in the world: they spread disease, damage structures, contaminate food. In general, there are two types of rats in the lower mainland: Norway rats and Roof rats.
What do they look like?
Norwegian rats are usually grayish-brown. They are heavy and thick, 7 - 10 inches long, and they weigh between 10-17 ounces. Their tail is shorter than head and body, and the top is darker than the bottom. Their nose and muzzle are blunt. Droppings are 3/4 inch long, and are blunt at both ends.
Roof rats are usually black. They are slender, 6.5 - 8 inches long, and they weigh between 6 - 12 ounces. Their tail is longer than the head and body, and the top is the same colour as the bottom. Their nose and muzzle are pointed. Droppings are 1/2 inch long, and pointed at both ends.
How do they get into my home?
Rats can fit through openings that are as small as 1/2 inch in diameter; therefore, it is almost impossible to rat-proof a
structure.
Roof rats are very capable climbers and can therefore find entry points up on the roof. Norway rats burrow to a depth of four feet, and can therefore find entry points into crawl spaces and basements. Both types of rats are capable swimmers, and may travel through sewer lines and into homes.
I've never had a rat problem before. Why now?
If you've never had a rat problem, you have been lucky! Because of rats' ability to enter through such small openings (as small as 1/2 inch diameter), they can gain access to almost any structure. Rats will typically search out a new home in late fall or early winter as the weather gets cooler and food becomes scarce.
What can I do to prevent rats from getting into my home?
There are some measures you may take to make your home less inviting.
· Keep firewood away from your home. Firewood provides an excellent shelter from rain and cold.
· If you have a birdfeeder, allow birds to clean up birdseed that has fallen before adding more. Birdseed on the ground attracts rodents to your yard, and ultimately may attract them into your home.
· Keep dry goods (including pet food) in plastic containers. This is true for goods stored inside your house as well as in your garage. Rodents are very capable of chewing through paper and plastic bags, and once a food source is found, they will continue to come back.
· Keep garbage in tightly sealed containers.
· Keep clean! While good sanitation will not prevent a problem, poor sanitation may encourage a problem.
· Trim weeds, bushes, and densely growing plants like ivy and berry thickets. Keep branches from touching the roof or siding of house.
roofrat trapped
What kind of damage do rats do?
Rats are able to damage a number of goods in a number of different ways:
· They chew into stored food
· They gnaw anything softer than their teeth, and may do damage to electrical wires, wood, lead and aluminum sheeting,
cinder block, sun-dried adobe brick, etc.
· They leave droppings.
· They may urinate anywhere they go.
· They produce a distinctive odor.
If I have seen one rat, are there more?
Not necessarily, but probably. It is possible that only one rat has gained access into your home; however, rats are in heat approximately every 4 - 5 days, and may begin a family anytime.
Therefore, if you have one rat living in your home, there will likely be more within a month or so.
How often do rats reproduce?
Rats are in heat approximately every 4 to 5 days. After mating, gestation lasts between 21 to 23 days, and there may be anywhere from 5 to 12 pups per litter.
These young rats will be able to reproduce when they are 3
months old.
Interesting facts:
Rats show aversion to new objects;( i.e. they don't like new objects in their territory, and it will take several days for them to accept a new object as part of their environment.)
