The Norway rat is a serious concern for the residents of Philadelphia. Anyone who owns a residential or commercial property is encouraged to be alert for the signs of a Norway rat infestation.
Why are Norway rats such a problem? Like other rodents that live close to people, these pests spread diseases and cause terrible property damage. Living in and around man-made structures makes things too easy for Norway rats. With access to secure shelter and plenty of food and water, the rodent population thrives. This causes their numbers to multiply. Before long, the property is overrun.
Norway rats are colorblind and have poor eyesight, but their keen sense of smell more than makes up for this deficiency. Scents can lead them to find the smallest crumbs of food, and Norway rats also make use of their teeth in their quest for food and shelter. Pretty nearly everything that they encounter will be gnawed on, and with the ability to climb, jump and swim in addition to walking and running, there are few places into which Norway rats cannot get.
People who are worried about Norway rat infestations do possess the ability to take back control of their property. In fact, it is even possible to take steps to try to prevent Norway rats from entering buildings. This may be accomplished by blocking potential access points like doors and windows. Sealing cracks around doors, windows and chimneys is wise, and it is a good idea to ensure that dryer vents are secured by screens. The cleaner the interior of the building is, meaning that spills and crumbs are quickly cleaned up, the less likely Norway rats are to venture inside looking for a meal.
Despite all of these efforts, Norway rats still may come inside. When they do, property owners are advised to act fast. The sooner the rodents are evicted, the fewer chances there are that people will get sick or that extensive damage will be done.
WHAT DO NORWAY RATS LOOK LIKE?
While the belly of the Norway rat may feature gray or off-white fur, the back is brown or gray with a sprinkling of black. This fur is coarse, rough and shaggy, and the rodent's body is bulky though their ears and eyes are small.
The full-grown Norway rat can grow up to nine inches from the head to the base of the tail. A six- to eight-inch tail that is covered with scales makes the animal even longer. Most specimens weigh within the range of seven and 20 ounces.
WHAT DO NORWAY RATS EAT?
Basically omnivorous, Norway rats can subsist on any diet. If they are given the opportunity, they prefer to consume fish, meat, nuts, fruits and cereal grains. A diet of mainly dry foods will require the intake of between one half and one ounce of water on a daily basis. Norway rats that eat a steady diet of moist foods will not require as much water.
Trash cans and dumpsters are common places to find Norway rats as these animals like to find food in the garbage. Dusk is their most active time of the day, so they may be observed foraging for food during an infestation. However, if the population is large in a concentrated area, they may forage for food during the day.
WHERE DO NORWAY RATS LIVE?
Nocturnal Norway rats require a safe place where they can sleep during the day. The ground floor or basement of a building can provide the ideal habitat, but some Norway rats simply nest in the sewer. Frequently, members of the species live close to humans to make it easier to access water, food and shelter.
Sometimes, these rodents are discovered living in burrows that they dig alongside foundations. Trash that is carelessly left in gardens, pastures and fields also may be used as a nest. Similarly, a yard debris pile or woodpile can provide a ready-made place to sleep. Norway rats also inhabit sanitary sewer systems where they can subsist on waste products from people. This means that the rodents sometimes are caught entering buildings through a toilet.
Most Norway rats stay within a territory that is no more than 150 feet in diameter. In almost any circumstances, they do not go farther than 300 feet from their nest, so if Norway rats are seen inside a building, they are nesting nearby.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY NORWAY RATS
Like all rodents, Norway rats are practiced at burrowing and gnawing. These are two of its most common behaviors, and they lead to considerable structural damage. Norway rats in Philadelphia even are capable of undermining a structure's foundation if the population is large and has been in residence for quite some time. Railroads and streets are known to settle once Norway rats start burrowing beneath them, and canals and levees may sustain lasting damage.
Electrical wiring and water pipes both may be severely damaged by these rodents, and they further gnaw on all building components such as doors, windows, walls, ceilings and floors. Nesting in wall voids, attics or basements similarly is responsible for harming structures.
ARE NORWAY RATS AGGRESSIVE?
Norway rats are the most aggressive rodent species in the region. When an infestation is underway in a building or its surrounding landscape, scratches and bites can become common occurrences. People may be uneasy in kitchens or find it difficult to sleep at night knowing that Norway rats are roaming the building. Early treatment of an infestation is the best way to protect people from bites and scratches.
DO NORWAY RATS CARRY DISEASE?
This is the primary reason why most property owners call an exterminator. An infestation of Norway rats can make individuals and large groups of people very sick, and no direct contact between people and the pests is necessarily required.
Norway rats frequently are infested with fleas carrying plague, which means people are in danger of coming down with this fatal illness. This is a less-common occurrence, but Lyme disease is a relatively higher risk. These rodents frequently are infested with the deer ticks that carry Lyme disease, which puts people at risk of a serious diagnosis.
Another illness associated with Norway rats is leptospirosis, which is spread when people drink or otherwise come into contact with water that the rodents contaminated. An ectoparasite that lives on Norway rats additionally may be responsible for spreading murine typhus in people.
The most common sickness associated with these rats is salmonella, or food poisoning.
HOW TO DETECT NORWAY RATS
Signs of a Norway rat infestation include:
• Gnaw marks on food and various building components • Grease stains or streaks on walls • Rodent droppings • Rustling is heard behind walls
HOW TO PREVENT NORWAY RATS
To help prevent Norway rat issues the following steps should be taken:
• Eliminate spills and crumbs as soon as they are noticed • Correct water leaks • Store garbage cans some distance away from buildings • Ensure that garbage cans have tight lids • Seal or cover gaps around utility entrances • Eliminate gaps, fissures and holes in building exteriors
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.
