There is hardly anything worse than finding a rat anywhere near your house. What can you do to keep this from happening?
Rats are universally known as symbols of disease and dirty circumstances. It's well-known the role that rodents played in the spreading of disease, such as the plague. There are also a number of other health concerns that come with finding rodents in your living spaces. Find out what they are, and how to decrease the chances of finding rats and other rodents in your home and yard.
What Do Rats Look Like?
Rats are similar to other rodents, like mice, and often mislabeled. They can grow to be almost a foot long, ranging from 9-11 inches on average. They have fur, which is usually a darker brown or darker gray on their backs, with their undersides being a lighter shade. Interestingly, rats' tails are usually the same length as their bodies, meaning it doubles the length of the rodent from nose to tail. A rat's tail is always hairless but can vary in color from pink to brown.
Rats are often mistaken for all kinds of mice, voles or muskrats because they share many similarities. Here in Richmond, the most common type of rat is the Norway Rat (also called the "street rat" or "sewer rat"), which will burrow and nest underground. Norway rats tend to be slightly smaller than the average rat, coming in closer to 7-9 inches. They are generally a darker brown with a whitish underbelly.
Rats are agile creatures, being able to jump, climb, swim and run.
How Harmful Are Rats, Really?
Rats are a significant health concern. According to the Virginia Department of Health, "Diseases from these rodents can spread to people through bite wounds, by eating food or water rodents have contaminated, or breathing in dust with their dried urine or droppings that are stirred into the air." Among other things, they can contaminate your food by nibbling with their bacteria-filled mouths, which carry over 200 different germs.
Even without biting you, rats will be able to spread harmful diseases throughout your home and to your family and pets. In addition to their dirty saliva, they carry disease in their urine and feces, which they will undoubtedly spread throughout your house, if they find a way in. Even breathing in the dust from the air around their waste can spread diseases, as well as inadvertently touching any of it.
They can also cause other issues, such as house fires from chewing on wires, gnawing holes in your property, and can have up to 6 litters of babies a year (so you could end up with close to 300 rats over the course of the year).
If you've found gnaw marks or any droppings, or if you've heard scurrying noises, you've likely got a rodent problem.
How Can You Keep Rats Away From Your Home?
Horrifyingly, rats can squeeze through spaces the size of a quarter!... which can explain a lot when homeowners puzzle over finding rodents inside their homes. Rats will seek shelter and food. Eliminating options for either of those desirables will decrease the chances a rodent of any kind will want to find it's way in to your home.
Seal up food, clean up spills, make sure trash is taken out regularly. Try to keep any cracks or broken seals around doors, crawl space access points and foundations in good repair. Additionally, it will help to keep pet waste cleaned up and pet food sealed up and secured. For your yard, keep bushes trimmed back from your house. Essentially, all the same things that help with insects will also help with rodents.
Rodent stations are one of the most effective methods of rat removal. Some companies, like us here at Virginia Pest Pro, will provide rodent stations for free with regular service. There are also other local companies that specialize in rodent removal, for instances of more extreme infestations.
Call us today, we can help!
For more information on pests in Richmond, check out our pest library
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