Inadvertently imported to North America during the 18th century, the Norway rat has had no difficulty surviving in Feasterville. In fact, these nasty rodents are particularly well-suited to live in close proximity to people, making them a constant threat to health, safety and property.
Norway rats move into residential and commercial buildings because they know that doing so helps to ensure their survival. Man-made structures provide multiple places in which rodents can hide, and the opportunities for finding food are numerous. Even a minuscule scattering of crumbs on a table is enough to attract these pests.
Some people might be tempted to ignore the problem and hope that the Norway rats simply will go away. Unfortunately, these rats and other rodents have no reason to leave buildings unless they are forced to do so. While they remain indoors, these animals cause widespread structural damage and leave behind filth wherever they roam. Between the toxins that they spread and potentially dangerous physical contact, it is possible that people will get seriously ill just from being in the vicinity of Norway rats.
Still, controlling Norway rats is not as straightforward as people generally imagine. It seems like setting up some traps would do the trick, but this is a misapprehension. Norway rats are quite good at avoiding traps unless they are precisely placed and appropriately baited. While traps can get rid of a few individual rats, they are not enough to end an infestation involving dozens of animals.
Exterminators understand that multiple approaches are required to get rid of Norway rats for good. This means taking steps such as blocking the entrances that the animals are using to get into the building and locating the nests so that they can be removed. Only when these and other steps are finished can the infestation actually be declared to be at an end.
WHAT DO NORWAY RATS LOOK LIKE?
Sometimes mistaken for roof rats, Norway rats are this animal's bulkier, heavier cousin. The typical adult will have a body that is approximately nine inches long with a tail that measures between six and eight inches. Covered in gray or brown fur that is coarse and shaggy, the Norway rat may have lighter-colored fur on its belly. To many observers, the Norway rat's eyes and ears appear to be too small for its body.
WHAT DO NORWAY RATS EAT?
Norway rats are a superbly successful species. One of the reasons that they have managed to thrive even in environments that seem uninviting is their omnivorous eating habit. Most members of the species show a preference for plant-based foods such as cereal grains, seeds and nuts. However, these animals frequently consume fish, meat and insects. Norway rats are heavily dependent on water, so they frequently infest buildings that have water leaks or live close to ponds, lakes, streams and rivers.
Garbage cans and Dumpsters are ideal places for Norway rats to find all the food they require, which may have these rodents setting up nests close to these sites. Rats also may live inside buildings that have pantries, kitchens, dining rooms and cafeterias. Any food that is stored for use by people or pets is vulnerable unless it is stored in pest-proof containers. The Norway rats will eat bread, pasta, rice, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, meat, pet food and more.
WHERE DO NORWAY RATS LIVE?
The more secluded and dark a location is, the more likely Norway rats are to be drawn to it as a nesting site. Sewers are the perfect setting because they provide plenty of protection from predators as well as large amounts of water. Occasionally, Norway rats are discovered living in sanitary sewer systems. This gives them the advantage of being able to enter buildings through toilets, and they may eat a diet of human waste products.
Basements and crawlspaces, especially those that have issues with dampness, are likely places to nest. Not only do these locations provide excellent protection but also they promise ready access to food of all descriptions. Some Norway rats will dig a burrow adjacent to the foundation of a building or will make themselves at home in a pile of garbage, yard debris or firewood.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY NORWAY RATS
When people think about pests in Feasterville that cause damage, termites and carpenter ants are likely to spring to mind. However, Norway rats can be just as, or even more, damaging than these other pests.
Most rodents have teeth that never stop growing. To counteract this, they gnaw on everything that they encounter. This could include siding, roofing shingles, wooden building framing and drywall as well as the contents of the building. Furniture may be scratched and pitted while documents and books are destroyed. Norway rats are known to shred insulation and a variety of clothing and textiles to obtain lining for their nests.
ARE NORWAY RATS AGGRESSIVE?
These rodents react with shocking aggression when they believe they are trapped and have no means of escape. In general, they do their best to avoid people, which they see as a threat. People may be bitten or scratched during an accidental encounter, and it is never advisable for anyone to purposely try to catch or handle a Norway rat.
DO NORWAY RATS CARRY DISEASE?
Norway rats and the pests that infest them are capable of making people ill. In some cases, physical contact is necessary to transmit a disease. In others, it is only necessary for people to be in proximity to Norway rat waste products.
These animals routinely are infested with parasitic pests that may be infected with everything from Lyme disease to the plague. Occasionally, an infestation results in contamination of water supplies. Leptospirosis frequently is transmitted to people in this manner. Norway rats further may carry an ectoparasite that is infected with murine typhus, a disease that can be contracted by people.
HOW TO DETECT NORWAY RATS
Signs of a Norway rat infestation include:
• Teeth and claw marks are found throughout the building • Rodent waste products discovered indoors • Squeaking noises may come from behind walls • Pets may seem unsettled • Grease marks on walls and furniture
HOW TO PREVENT ROOF RATS
To help prevent Norway rat issues the following steps should be taken:
• Restrict eating to only certain areas of the building • Immediately clean up crumbs and spills • Place dirty dishes directly into the dishwasher instead of the sink • More frequently wipe down surfaces and vacuum floors in rooms where food is prepared or eaten • Use garbage cans with tight lids • Routinely clean garbage cans • Switch to pest-proof food storage containers • Put pet food out only for meals • Prevent trees and other foliage from contacting building exteriors • Eliminate outdoor clutter, garbage piles and yard debris piles • Place piles of firewood at least 20 feet away from structures • Seal up or block holes and cracks in the building's exterior that may be allowing pests inside
HOW TO TREAT FOR RODENTS
Successful rodent control typically involves a series of steps, including trapping, poison baits, along with proper species identification.
Those who suspect a rodent problem should contact Newtown Termite & Pest Control. Our experienced pest control professionals know how to inspect a structure to determine the type and scope of the infestation involved. They will then execute the appropriate plan of action to resolve the specific rodent issue plaguing your home or business while identifying entry points to help protect against future problems.
