NORWAY RATS The Norway rat is larger and more aggressive than the Roof Rat. APPEARANCE: As an adult the Norway Rat can weigh between 12-16 oz. with a body length of 6-8 inches long. The nose is blunt with small ears, and small eyes. The fur is shaggy and coarse with variation in colors. The tail is shorter than the head and body combined, and scaly. NORWAY RAT INSPECTION: The droppings are 1/4 to 1/2 inch in length, capsule shaped, with blunt ends. They are usually a shiny black, but may vary according to their diets. Norway rats and Roof Rats will leave a hind foot track of about 3/4-1 inch where a mouse's track measure's 3/8 of an inch or less. Rats will also drag their tails, leaving a mark between their feet tracks. Unscented baby powder or flour, lightly sprinkled can help you determine tracks and their runways as they cross suspected areas. Gnawing holes from rats are about 2 inches or more in diameter. They have rough edges. They prefer to gnaw on wood, but can damage electrical wiring. Rat burrows can be found along foundations, or beneath rubbish and shubbery. If the burrow is active it usually clear of vegetation. Rat runways are smooth and well packed. Indoors, these runways are free of dust and dirt. DIET: They prefer foods with a high protein or carbohydrate content, but will eat almost any type of food. They need water to survive, unlike mice. HABITS AND BIOLOGY: The
young rats reach sexual maturity in 2-3 months, females average
4-7litters a year, with 8-12 pups per litter. Adults live about
a year. They live in colonies. The Norway rat generally prefers
to live in underground tunnels. On farms, they will be near a
food source: barns, granaries, livestock buildings, and silos.
In the cities, they will be in the ground in their is available
space, but have been known live entirely inside buildings. Rats
will seek food outside, but many times will come inside at night
to forage for food and return to their burrows. Needing a water
source, they can obtain water from toilets, sinks, rain puddles,
or condensation from utility pipes. Their nesting burrows on
the outside are often along the foundation of walls. As the rat
family grows, more burrows are built, resulting in a network
of underground tunnels. Inside, the Norway Rat commonly nest
on the lower levels, but if the population is too large, they
may be found in the attic and ceiling areas. Their nests are
built from soft material like paper or grass chewed into small
pieces. Rats will climb if necessary to enter a building, the
Norway Rat is an excellent swimmer. Rats are suspicious of changes
in the environment or new foods, for this reason it may take
a couple of days for traps or poison baits to take. Rats are
nocturnal, with their peak activity at dusk or before dawn. When
the population is large or they are disturbed or hungry, you
can see activity during the day. ROOF RAT APPEARANCE:
The Roof Rat is smaller and more slender than the bigger Norway
Rat. The adults weigh about 5-9 ounces,7-10 inches long. The
tail is longer than the head and body combined. They have large
ears and a pointed nose. The fur is smooth, as opposed to the
Norway rat with it's shaggy fur. RAT ROOF INSPECTION: Refer to
the section on Norway Rat inspection. Much would be the same
except the droppings are spindle shaped instead of capsule shaped
and the droppings reach about 1/4 inch in size. The tail markings
and hind feet markings are the same. Runways for Roof Rats are
difficult to determine. To see a picture of tracks and droppings-click
here DIET: They prefer seeds, nuts, fresh vegetables and fruits,
but will eat meat and grain products. HABITS AND BIOLOGY: They
become sexually mature in 2-3 months, with 4-6 litters per year,
4-8 pups per litter. The Roof Rat is a climber, commonly nesting
in areas above the ground: trees, vines, attics, ceiling voids,
or in voids along the roof line. These rats enter your home much
like squirrels. As their population grows they will nest in underground
burrows. RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS AND TREATMENTS: There are several advantages for using traps: 1. Safer than potential hazardous poison baits 2. Quick, immediate results 3. Easy disposal of dead rodents avoiding odor problems that will occur if rodenticides kill rodents in inaccessible areas. 4. Types of traps: SNAP TRAPS-MICE AND RAT SIZE T REX TRAPPER KIT-PERFECT COMBINATION OF LIVE TRAPS AND THE EASY TO USE T REX TRAPS FOR RATS (MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR RATS) MULTIPLE-CATCH TRAPS-(MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR MICE) GLUE BOARDS-MICE AND RAT SIZE LIVE ANIMAL TRAP-FOR RATS,FLYING SQUIRRELS, CHIPMUNKS II. RODENTICIDES Rodenticides are poison baits and should be used in areas where domestic animals and children can't reach. However there are resistant -tamper proof bait stations that hold the baits in place and keep children and pets out...in fact it is a national law and guideline to use resistant-tamper proof bait stations in areas where children or pets could access. |