Rats

Posted in Featured, Rodents

The name “Rodent” means “gnawing teeth”, and describes one prominent trait of all rodents – they gnaw, or chew on things.  Of course, this may be because they are planning to eat the object, such as fruit or nuts, but often it simply they need to chew to prevent their incisor teeth from growing too long.  There are many species of rats in the United States, and most we find around us are native.

There are 2 species of rats in our country, very widespread in their range, that do not belong here and these are the Norway Rat and the Roof Rat.  Both are native to eastern Asia, but came to this country on ships sailing across the Atlantic Ocean.  As with many imported species there are no specific natural controls for these rats in the U.S., and  they live and breed with relative impunity.  Of course, many of them are eaten by natural predators such as owls or coyotes,  but because these two species have chosen to live closely with humans there are few native predators available to control their numbers .

Some other common names for these two rats might be:

• Norway Rat – sewer rat, brown rat, wharf rat, ship rat, burrowing rat, house rat
• Roof Rat – black rat, tree rat, climbing rat, gray-bellied rat

These names are descriptions of the appearance and habits of these rats. The Norway Rat is an excellent swimmer, and is found often around waterfront areas, in sewers or storm drains, in our homes, or in underground burrows where it prefers to nest. The Roof Rat is a phenomenal climber, easily scurrying up trees, power poles or the side of houses. They prefer to nest above ground, perhaps as an escape from the Norway Rat, and commonly nest in trees or thick shrubbery, as well as in the attics of our homes.

How do rats affect us?

• Food – worldwide, rodents destroy about one half of the food we produce  due to contamination of the food with excrement. Rats eliminate an average of 20-50 droppings per day, along with an ounce of urine, onto whatever surface they are on, including food products.
• Disease – rats carry parasites such as fleas, mites, and lice that have been responsible for the deaths of many humans.  Even if they are not spreading a life-threatening disease to us, parasites such as Tropical Rat Mites feed on people who live in a structure with a rodent infestation.
• Damage – due to their constant “gnawing” rodents destroy personal property. It is believed that about one third of structure fires of “unknown” origin likely are caused by rats chewing on electric wires.
• Attacks on humans- as awful as it seems, rats will readily feed on humans . There are numerous reported cases of attacks on babies as they slept in their cribs.