Norway Rat Facts
The Norway Rat, also known as the brown, house, wharf or sewer rat, is originally from Asia, but can now be found wherever people are. They reproduce all year long if indoors, but outside, they mate in the spring or fall. Norway rats can live anywhere between five months to a year and feed primarily on a diet of grains, meats, seeds, roaches, and fruit.
Norway Rat Damage
Preferring more than just cheese, these rats will eat whatever foods you have lying around. Norway rats damage crops before and after harvesting. Structural issues may also occur from burrowing and gnawing, weakening interiors. Munching on electrical wires will cause short circuiting and malfunctioning in appliances. Norway rats are vessels for fleas. Fleas can transmit a variety of harmful diseases to humans and other animals. Some of these include murine typhus, leptospirosis, trichinosis, salmonellosis, rat bite fever, and occasionally the bubonic plague. These diseases are often severe and range from flu-like symptoms to bleeding and discoloration. If you experience any unusual symptoms within a few days of coming into contact with these rodents, seek medical attention to prevent progression of any sickness.
Norway Rat Infestation
Droppings can be found near shelters or feeding areas. Usually you’ll notice small tracks in dusty or muddy surfaces. You might also smell urine in feeding areas, or smudge marks from oil rubbing off of their bodies along the routes they travel. Gnaw marks are common around ledges, walls, or on stored materials. Sounds of squeaking, clawing, or even fighting among Norway rats in your walls, or beneath your floors are sure signs you have a Norway rat infestation.
Types of Norway Rats
Norway Rat Identification
Including the length of the tail, Norway rats can grow to be up to 18 inches long. Their fur is grayish brown while the ears and tails are hairless.
Norway Rats in the Walls & Home
These rats aren’t afraid of living right alongside people. They may be hiding in cellars, warehouses, slaughterhouses, docks, and sewers. If you live on a farm, look out for these pests in granaries, silos, and livestock buildings. In suburban and urban areas, Norway rat nests are found under buildings, concrete slabs, near streams and ponds, and even in garbage dumps. As long as they have food and shelter, Norway rats will make their home anywhere they can.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do Norway rat droppings look like?
Adult Norway rats can produce thousands of droppings in a very short period of time, so even if you aren’t seeing them, you may find their droppings. Norway rat fecal matter is usually dark-colored, about half an inch in length, and pointed on both ends.
How do you control a Norway rat infestation?
In order to stop the rats from entering in the first place, seal up any holes and openings around your home. Use sturdy materials like concrete or metal.
Keeping your home free of clutter and garbage, and storing food in airtight containers will discourage rats from sneaking around for snacks. Cleaning up any crumbs or spills immediately after they occur is also essential. Outside your home, trim back bushes, shrubs, and trees to reduce any shelter they may provide.
Clearing any debris and other organic material from the property is also helpful. While keeping clean is the best way to discourage them, scaring them away may be quick short-term solution. Rats easily adapt to strange noises, so this may only clear them on a few occasions.
Homes or properties that face any type of rat infestation should immediately call a licensed pest control expert to remove it. This ensures the safety of everyone on the property.
What are the benefits of professional rat or rodent pest control?
Finding and removing Norway rats on a property can be challenging, especially if there are numerous nesting sites in the attic, basement, or walls of a business or home.
Expert pest specialists have the educational background, equipment, and skill to control and remove rodents from a property in a safe, efficient way.
If you’re struggling with rodents like Norway rats on your property, contact us. Our technicians can remove the critters and help you regain control of your property and sanity.
