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Rodent Control and Elimination
Rat and Mouse are actually not scientific classifications. These words are common names for rodents that
look alike to the casual eye.
Rat is used to describe medium-sized rodents with long thin tails. There are many species of rodent that
are called Rats -- Kangaroo Rats, Cotton Rats, Norway Rats, Roof Rats (Black Rats), African Pouched Rats,
Naked Mole Rats, Wood Rats, Pack Rats, Polynesian Rats and many others. These different rodent species
may not be closely related to each other at all!
Mouse is used to describe tiny, sparrow-sized rodents with long thin tails. As with Rats, there are many
species of rodents called Mice which may or may not be closely related to each other: House Mice, Field
Mice, Deer Mice, Smoky Mice, Spiny Mice, and Door Mice are all called Mice.
So, which Rats and Mice are you talking about? Generally, people are referring to the domestic or pest Rats
and Mice, which means Norway Rats (Rattus norvegicus), Roof Rats (Rattus rattus), and House Mice (Mus
musculus).
Disease:
Rodents can carry a wide variety of diseases transmissible to humans. A very real problem with the
infestation of Mice is the Hantavirus which has been a threat in the arid southwestern part of the country.
While the House Mouse has not been found to be a carrier of Hantavirus, other Mice( White-footed and Deer
Mice) have been noted carriers.
Another major concern is Salmonellosis which is transmitted by Mice and is a concern in food storage and
preparation areas. Salmonella live in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals, including birds.
Salmonella are usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces.
Other Diseases Include: Lassa Fever, Leptospirosis, Plague and Rat-Bite Fever.
look alike to the casual eye.
Rat is used to describe medium-sized rodents with long thin tails. There are many species of rodent that
are called Rats -- Kangaroo Rats, Cotton Rats, Norway Rats, Roof Rats (Black Rats), African Pouched Rats,
Naked Mole Rats, Wood Rats, Pack Rats, Polynesian Rats and many others. These different rodent species
may not be closely related to each other at all!
Mouse is used to describe tiny, sparrow-sized rodents with long thin tails. As with Rats, there are many
species of rodents called Mice which may or may not be closely related to each other: House Mice, Field
Mice, Deer Mice, Smoky Mice, Spiny Mice, and Door Mice are all called Mice.
So, which Rats and Mice are you talking about? Generally, people are referring to the domestic or pest Rats
and Mice, which means Norway Rats (Rattus norvegicus), Roof Rats (Rattus rattus), and House Mice (Mus
musculus).
Disease:
Rodents can carry a wide variety of diseases transmissible to humans. A very real problem with the
infestation of Mice is the Hantavirus which has been a threat in the arid southwestern part of the country.
While the House Mouse has not been found to be a carrier of Hantavirus, other Mice( White-footed and Deer
Mice) have been noted carriers.
Another major concern is Salmonellosis which is transmitted by Mice and is a concern in food storage and
preparation areas. Salmonella live in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals, including birds.
Salmonella are usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces.
Other Diseases Include: Lassa Fever, Leptospirosis, Plague and Rat-Bite Fever.
House Mouse/Deer Mouse Control
Identification and Range:
The House Mouse (Mus musculus) is a small, slender rodent that
has a slightly pointed nose; small, black, somewhat protruding eyes;
large, scantily haired ears, and a nearly hairless tail with obvious
scale rings. The adult Mouse weighs about 2/5 to 4/5 ounces. They
are generally grayish-brown with a gray or buff belly. Similar Mice
include the White-footed Mouse and Harvest Mice (which have
grooved upper incisor teeth.) The House Mouse has a overall gray
color. The White-footed Mouse and Deer Mouse both have a white
underside.
The House Mouse's tail has very little fur on it, the tails of the Deer
Mouse and the White-footed Mouse are moderately to well furred
and are light underneath and dark on top. Native to central Asia,
this species arrived in North America along with settlers from
Europe and other points of origin. A very adaptable species, the
House Mouse often lives in close association with humans and
therefore is termed one of the "commensal" rodents along with
Norway and Roof Rats. Following their arrival on colonists’ ships,
House Mice spread across North America and now are found in
every state including coastal areas of Alaska, and in the southern
parts of Canada.
Habitat:
House Mice live in and around homes, farms, commercial
establishments, as well as in open fields and agricultural lands. The
onset of cold weather each fall in temperate regions is what causes
Mice to move into structures in search of shelter and food. House
Mice can dig and may burrow into the ground in fields or around
structures when other shelter is not readily available. Nesting may
occur here or in any sheltered location. Nests are constructed of
fibrous materials and generally have the appearance of a "ball" of
material loosely woven together. These nests are usually 4 to 6
inches in diameter.
Feeding Habits:
House Mice eat many types of food but prefer seeds and grain. They
are not hesitant to sample new foods and are considered "nibblers,"
sampling many kinds of items that may exist in their environment.
Foods high in fat, protein, or sugar may be preferred even when
grain and seed also are present. Such items include bacon,
chocolate candies, butter and nutmeats. A single Mouse eats only
about 3 grams of food per day (8 pounds per year) but because of
their habit of nibbling on many foods and discarding partially eaten
items, Mice destroy considerably more food than they consume.
Unlike Norway and Roof Rats, they can get by with little or no free
water, although they readily drink water when it is available. They
obtain their water needs from the food they eat. An absence of liquid
water or food of adequate moisture content in their environment
may reduce their breeding potential.
Feeding Behavior:
House Mice are mainly nocturnal, although at some locations
considerable daytime activity may be seen. Seeing Mice during
daylight hours does not necessarily mean there is a high population
present, although this usually is true for Rats.
Reproduction and Development:
Litters of 5 or 6 young are born 19 to 21 days after mating, although
females that conceive while still nursing may have a slightly longer
gestation period. Newborn mice are naked and their eyes are closed.
They grow rapidly and after 2 to 3 weeks they are covered with hair
and their eyes and ears are open. They begin to make short
excursions from the nest and eat solid food at 3 weeks. Weaning
soon follows, and Mice are sexually mature as early as 6 to 10
weeks old.
Mice may breed year-round and a female may have 5 to 10 litters
per year. Mouse populations can therefore grow rapidly under good
conditions, although breeding and survival of young slow markedly
when population densities become high.
During its daily activities, a Mouse normally travels an area
averaging 10 to 30 feet in diameter, seldom traveling further than
this to obtain food or water. Mice constantly explore and learn about
their environment, memorizing the locations of pathways, obstacles,
food and water, shelter and other elements in their domain. They
quickly detect new objects in their environment, but they do not
fear novel objects as do rats.
Senses:
Mice have poor eyesight, relying more on their hearing and their
excellent senses of smell, taste and touch. They are considered
essentially colorblind.
Contact Assassin Exterminating today for all your rat and
mouse removal needs.
The House Mouse (Mus musculus) is a small, slender rodent that
has a slightly pointed nose; small, black, somewhat protruding eyes;
large, scantily haired ears, and a nearly hairless tail with obvious
scale rings. The adult Mouse weighs about 2/5 to 4/5 ounces. They
are generally grayish-brown with a gray or buff belly. Similar Mice
include the White-footed Mouse and Harvest Mice (which have
grooved upper incisor teeth.) The House Mouse has a overall gray
color. The White-footed Mouse and Deer Mouse both have a white
underside.
The House Mouse's tail has very little fur on it, the tails of the Deer
Mouse and the White-footed Mouse are moderately to well furred
and are light underneath and dark on top. Native to central Asia,
this species arrived in North America along with settlers from
Europe and other points of origin. A very adaptable species, the
House Mouse often lives in close association with humans and
therefore is termed one of the "commensal" rodents along with
Norway and Roof Rats. Following their arrival on colonists’ ships,
House Mice spread across North America and now are found in
every state including coastal areas of Alaska, and in the southern
parts of Canada.
Habitat:
House Mice live in and around homes, farms, commercial
establishments, as well as in open fields and agricultural lands. The
onset of cold weather each fall in temperate regions is what causes
Mice to move into structures in search of shelter and food. House
Mice can dig and may burrow into the ground in fields or around
structures when other shelter is not readily available. Nesting may
occur here or in any sheltered location. Nests are constructed of
fibrous materials and generally have the appearance of a "ball" of
material loosely woven together. These nests are usually 4 to 6
inches in diameter.
Feeding Habits:
House Mice eat many types of food but prefer seeds and grain. They
are not hesitant to sample new foods and are considered "nibblers,"
sampling many kinds of items that may exist in their environment.
Foods high in fat, protein, or sugar may be preferred even when
grain and seed also are present. Such items include bacon,
chocolate candies, butter and nutmeats. A single Mouse eats only
about 3 grams of food per day (8 pounds per year) but because of
their habit of nibbling on many foods and discarding partially eaten
items, Mice destroy considerably more food than they consume.
Unlike Norway and Roof Rats, they can get by with little or no free
water, although they readily drink water when it is available. They
obtain their water needs from the food they eat. An absence of liquid
water or food of adequate moisture content in their environment
may reduce their breeding potential.
Feeding Behavior:
House Mice are mainly nocturnal, although at some locations
considerable daytime activity may be seen. Seeing Mice during
daylight hours does not necessarily mean there is a high population
present, although this usually is true for Rats.
Reproduction and Development:
Litters of 5 or 6 young are born 19 to 21 days after mating, although
females that conceive while still nursing may have a slightly longer
gestation period. Newborn mice are naked and their eyes are closed.
They grow rapidly and after 2 to 3 weeks they are covered with hair
and their eyes and ears are open. They begin to make short
excursions from the nest and eat solid food at 3 weeks. Weaning
soon follows, and Mice are sexually mature as early as 6 to 10
weeks old.
Mice may breed year-round and a female may have 5 to 10 litters
per year. Mouse populations can therefore grow rapidly under good
conditions, although breeding and survival of young slow markedly
when population densities become high.
During its daily activities, a Mouse normally travels an area
averaging 10 to 30 feet in diameter, seldom traveling further than
this to obtain food or water. Mice constantly explore and learn about
their environment, memorizing the locations of pathways, obstacles,
food and water, shelter and other elements in their domain. They
quickly detect new objects in their environment, but they do not
fear novel objects as do rats.
Senses:
Mice have poor eyesight, relying more on their hearing and their
excellent senses of smell, taste and touch. They are considered
essentially colorblind.
Contact Assassin Exterminating today for all your rat and
mouse removal needs.
Roof Rat Control Services
Identification and Range:
The Roof Rat (Rattus rattus) is one of two introduced Rats found in
the contiguous 48 states. The Norway Rat is the other species and is
better known because of its widespread distribution. When
distinguishing the Norway Rat from the Roof Rat, pull the tail back
over the body. The tail of the Roof Rat will reach the nose. The tail of
the Norway Rat will not reach beyond the ears. A third Rat species,
the Polynesian Rat, is present in the Hawaiian Islands but not on
the mainland. rattus rattus is commonly known as the Roof Rat,
Black Rat or Ship Rat. Roof Rats were common on early sailing ships
and apparently arrived in this country by that route. This rodent has
a long record as a carrier of plague.
Three subspecies have been named, generally identified by their fur
color:
1. The Black Rat, R. rattus rattus Linnaeus, is black with a gray belly.
2. The Alexandrine Rat, R. rattus Alexandrinus Geoffroy has an
agouti (brownish streaked with gray) back and gray belly.
3. The Fruit Rat, R. rattus Frugivorus Rafinesque, has an agouti
back and white belly.
Crossbreeding between subspecies has often occurred, resulting in
unreliability in identification by color. However, Roof Rats do not
cross with Norway Rats.
Roof Rats range along the lower half of the East Coast and
throughout the Gulf States and upward into Arkansas. They also
exist along the Pacific Coast and are found on the Hawaiian Islands.
The Roof Rat is apparently not quite as adaptable as the Norway Rat,
which is one reason it has not spread throughout the country. Its
geographic distribution suggests it is more suited to tropical and
semi-tropical climates. Occasionally isolated populations are
reported from areas not within their normal distribution range;
however, these instances are rare. Most of the Great Plains states are
free of Roof Rats but infestations can occur.
Habitat:
Roof Rats are more aerial than Norway Rats in their habitat selection
and often will live in trees or on vine covered fences. Landscaped
residential or industrial areas provide good habitat, as does
vegetation of riverbanks and streams. They will often move into
sugarcane and citrus groves. Roof Rats are sometimes found living
in or around poultry or other farm buildings as well as in industrial
sites where food and shelter are available. Being agile climbers, Roof
Rats frequently enter buildings from the roof or accesses near utility
lines which they use to travel from area to area. They have been
found in sewer systems, but this is not very common.
Feeding Habits:
The food habits of Roof Rats resemble those of tree squirrels, since
they both like a wide variety of fruit and nuts. They also feed on a
variety of ornamental and native plant materials. Like the Norway
Rat, they are omnivorous and will feed on most anything if
necessary. Roof Rats usually require water daily, though their local
diet may provide an adequate amount if high in water content.
Feeding Behavior:
Roof Rats usually begin searching for food shortly after sunset. If the
food is in an exposed area and too large to be eaten quickly, yet not
too large to be moved, they will usually carry it to a hiding place
before eating it. Many Rats will hoard considerable amounts of solid
food, which they may or may not eat later. When necessary, Roof
Rats will travel considerable distances for food. They can often be
seen at night running along overhead utility lines. They may live in
trees or attics and climb down to a food source. This is important
from the standpoint of control, for traditional baiting or trapping on
the ground or floor may intercept very few Roof Rats. Roof Rats have
a strong tendency to avoid new objects in their environment and
this can influence control efforts. These Rats may take several days
before they will approach a bait station or trap.
Reproduction and Development:
Born in a nest about 21 to 23 days after conception, the young Rats
are naked and their eyes are closed. The 5 to 8 young in the litter
develop rapidly, growing hair within a week. When they are 9 to 14
days old, their eyes open and they begin to explore for food and
move about near their nest. In the third week they begin to take
solid food. The number of litters depends on the area and varies with
nearness to the limit of their climatic range, availability of
nutritious food, density of the local Rat population and age of the
Rat. The young may continue to nurse until 4 or 5 weeks old.
Young Rats generally cannot be trapped until about 1 month old. At
about 3 months of age they are completely independent of the
mother and are reproductively mature. In tropical or semitropical
regions, the breeding season may be nearly year-round. Usually the
peaks in breeding occur in the spring and fall.
Senses:
Rats see poorly, relying more on smell, taste, touch and hearing.
They are considered to be colorblind, responding only to the degree
of lightness and darkness of colors. Roof Rats also have an excellent
sense of balance. They use their tails for balance while traveling
along overhead utility lines and are very agile climbers.
Contact Assassin Exterminating today for all your rat
and mouse removal needs.
The Roof Rat (Rattus rattus) is one of two introduced Rats found in
the contiguous 48 states. The Norway Rat is the other species and is
better known because of its widespread distribution. When
distinguishing the Norway Rat from the Roof Rat, pull the tail back
over the body. The tail of the Roof Rat will reach the nose. The tail of
the Norway Rat will not reach beyond the ears. A third Rat species,
the Polynesian Rat, is present in the Hawaiian Islands but not on
the mainland. rattus rattus is commonly known as the Roof Rat,
Black Rat or Ship Rat. Roof Rats were common on early sailing ships
and apparently arrived in this country by that route. This rodent has
a long record as a carrier of plague.
Three subspecies have been named, generally identified by their fur
color:
1. The Black Rat, R. rattus rattus Linnaeus, is black with a gray belly.
2. The Alexandrine Rat, R. rattus Alexandrinus Geoffroy has an
agouti (brownish streaked with gray) back and gray belly.
3. The Fruit Rat, R. rattus Frugivorus Rafinesque, has an agouti
back and white belly.
Crossbreeding between subspecies has often occurred, resulting in
unreliability in identification by color. However, Roof Rats do not
cross with Norway Rats.
Roof Rats range along the lower half of the East Coast and
throughout the Gulf States and upward into Arkansas. They also
exist along the Pacific Coast and are found on the Hawaiian Islands.
The Roof Rat is apparently not quite as adaptable as the Norway Rat,
which is one reason it has not spread throughout the country. Its
geographic distribution suggests it is more suited to tropical and
semi-tropical climates. Occasionally isolated populations are
reported from areas not within their normal distribution range;
however, these instances are rare. Most of the Great Plains states are
free of Roof Rats but infestations can occur.
Habitat:
Roof Rats are more aerial than Norway Rats in their habitat selection
and often will live in trees or on vine covered fences. Landscaped
residential or industrial areas provide good habitat, as does
vegetation of riverbanks and streams. They will often move into
sugarcane and citrus groves. Roof Rats are sometimes found living
in or around poultry or other farm buildings as well as in industrial
sites where food and shelter are available. Being agile climbers, Roof
Rats frequently enter buildings from the roof or accesses near utility
lines which they use to travel from area to area. They have been
found in sewer systems, but this is not very common.
Feeding Habits:
The food habits of Roof Rats resemble those of tree squirrels, since
they both like a wide variety of fruit and nuts. They also feed on a
variety of ornamental and native plant materials. Like the Norway
Rat, they are omnivorous and will feed on most anything if
necessary. Roof Rats usually require water daily, though their local
diet may provide an adequate amount if high in water content.
Feeding Behavior:
Roof Rats usually begin searching for food shortly after sunset. If the
food is in an exposed area and too large to be eaten quickly, yet not
too large to be moved, they will usually carry it to a hiding place
before eating it. Many Rats will hoard considerable amounts of solid
food, which they may or may not eat later. When necessary, Roof
Rats will travel considerable distances for food. They can often be
seen at night running along overhead utility lines. They may live in
trees or attics and climb down to a food source. This is important
from the standpoint of control, for traditional baiting or trapping on
the ground or floor may intercept very few Roof Rats. Roof Rats have
a strong tendency to avoid new objects in their environment and
this can influence control efforts. These Rats may take several days
before they will approach a bait station or trap.
Reproduction and Development:
Born in a nest about 21 to 23 days after conception, the young Rats
are naked and their eyes are closed. The 5 to 8 young in the litter
develop rapidly, growing hair within a week. When they are 9 to 14
days old, their eyes open and they begin to explore for food and
move about near their nest. In the third week they begin to take
solid food. The number of litters depends on the area and varies with
nearness to the limit of their climatic range, availability of
nutritious food, density of the local Rat population and age of the
Rat. The young may continue to nurse until 4 or 5 weeks old.
Young Rats generally cannot be trapped until about 1 month old. At
about 3 months of age they are completely independent of the
mother and are reproductively mature. In tropical or semitropical
regions, the breeding season may be nearly year-round. Usually the
peaks in breeding occur in the spring and fall.
Senses:
Rats see poorly, relying more on smell, taste, touch and hearing.
They are considered to be colorblind, responding only to the degree
of lightness and darkness of colors. Roof Rats also have an excellent
sense of balance. They use their tails for balance while traveling
along overhead utility lines and are very agile climbers.
Contact Assassin Exterminating today for all your rat
and mouse removal needs.
Identification and Range:
The Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus) is a stocky burrowing rodent,
unintentionally introduced to North America by settlers who arrived
on ships from Europe. First introduced into the United States
around 1775, this Rat has now spread throughout the contiguous 48
states. The Norway Rat is found generally at lower elevations but
may be found wherever humans live. Also called the Brown Rat,
House Rat, Barn Rat, Sewer Rat, Gray Rat, or Wharf Rat, it is a
slightly larger animal than the Roof Rat. The nose is blunt, the ears
are small, close set and do not reach the eyes when pulled down.
The tail is scaly, semi-naked and shorter than the head and body
combined. When distinguishing the Norway Rat from the Roof Rat,
pull the tail back over the body. The tail of the Roof Rat will reach
the nose. The tail of the Norway Rat will not reach beyond the ears.
Adult Norway Rats weigh an average of about 1 pound. Their fur is
coarse and usually is brownish or reddish-gray above, and whitish-
gray on the belly. Blackish individuals occur in some locations.
Habitat:
Norway Rats live in close association with people. They burrow to
make nests under buildings and other structures, beneath concrete
slabs, along stream banks, around ponds, in garbage dumps, and at
other locations where suitable food, water, and shelter are present.
Nests may be lined with shredded paper, cloth, or other fibrous
material. On farms they may inhabit barns, granaries, livestock
buildings, silos, and kennels. In urban or suburban areas they live
in and around residences, in cellars, warehouses, stores,
slaughterhouses, docks, and in sewers. Although they can climb,
Norway Rats tend to inhabit the lower floors of multi-story buildings.
In urban areas most rats remain around the buildings and yards
which provide their necessities, and unless they are disturbed, they
do not move great distances.
Feeding Habits:
Norway Rats will eat nearly any type of food. When given a choice,
they select a nutritionally balanced diet, choosing fresh, wholesome
items over stale or contaminated foods. They prefer cereal grains,
meats and fish, nut, and some types of fruit. Rats require 1/2 to 1
ounce of water daily when feeding on dry foods but need less when
moist foods are available. Food items in household garbage offer a
fairly balanced diet and also satisfy their moisture needs.
Feeding Behavior:
Norway Rats use their keen sense of smell to locate food items and
apparently to recognize other Rats. Norway Rats rely on their sense
of smell to recognize the odors of pathways, members of the opposite
sex who are ready to mate, differentiate between members of their
own colonies and strangers, and to tell if a stranger is a strong or
weak individual. Norway Rats are primarily nocturnal. They usually
become active around dusk, when they begin to seek food and
water. Some individuals may be active during daylight hours when
the Rat population is high, when disturbed (weather change,
construction, etc.) or when their food source is threatened. The
territories of most Rats are between 50 and 150 feet radius of the
nest. In populations where there are many Rats and abundant food
and shelter, the territories will be towards the lower end of the
range. If need be, however, Rats will travel 300 feet or more daily to
obtain their food and water.
Reproduction and Development:
Litters of 6 to 12 young are born 21 to 23 days after conception.
Newborn Rats are naked and their eyes are closed, but they grow
rapidly. They can eat solid food at 2 1/2 to 3 weeks. They become
completely independent at about 3 to 4 weeks and reach
reproductive maturity at 3 months of age, sometimes as early as 8
weeks.
Female Norway Rats may come into heat every 4 or 5 days, and they
may mate within a day after a litter is born. The average female Rat
has 4 to 6 litters per year and may successfully wean 20 or more
offspring annually.
Senses:
Rats have poor eyesight beyond three or four feet, relying more on
their hearing and their excellent senses of smell, taste and touch.
Norway Rats are very sensitive to motion up to 30-50 feet away. They
are considered essentially colorblind.
Norway Rats use hearing to locate objects to within a few inches.
This highly developed sense (combined with their touch sensitivity)
can pinpoint someone rolling over in bed to a six inch area. The
frequency range of their hearing (50 kilohertz or more) is much
higher than that of humans (about 20 kilohertz.)
Norway Rats have a highly developed sense of touch due to very
sensitive body hairs and whiskers which they use to explore their
environment. Much of a rodent’s movement in a familiar area relies
heavily on the senses of touch and smell to direct it through time-
tested movements learned by exploration and knowledge of its home
range. Rodents prefer a stationary object on at least one side of them
as they travel and thus commonly move along walls, a fact which is
very useful when designing a Rodent Elimination Program.
Their sense of taste is excellent, and they can detect some
contaminants in their food at levels as low as 0.5 parts per million.
This highly developed taste sensitivity may lead to bait rejection if
the rodent baits are contaminated with insecticide odors or other
chemicals.
Contact Assassin Exterminating today for all your rat
and mouse removal needs.
The Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus) is a stocky burrowing rodent,
unintentionally introduced to North America by settlers who arrived
on ships from Europe. First introduced into the United States
around 1775, this Rat has now spread throughout the contiguous 48
states. The Norway Rat is found generally at lower elevations but
may be found wherever humans live. Also called the Brown Rat,
House Rat, Barn Rat, Sewer Rat, Gray Rat, or Wharf Rat, it is a
slightly larger animal than the Roof Rat. The nose is blunt, the ears
are small, close set and do not reach the eyes when pulled down.
The tail is scaly, semi-naked and shorter than the head and body
combined. When distinguishing the Norway Rat from the Roof Rat,
pull the tail back over the body. The tail of the Roof Rat will reach
the nose. The tail of the Norway Rat will not reach beyond the ears.
Adult Norway Rats weigh an average of about 1 pound. Their fur is
coarse and usually is brownish or reddish-gray above, and whitish-
gray on the belly. Blackish individuals occur in some locations.
Habitat:
Norway Rats live in close association with people. They burrow to
make nests under buildings and other structures, beneath concrete
slabs, along stream banks, around ponds, in garbage dumps, and at
other locations where suitable food, water, and shelter are present.
Nests may be lined with shredded paper, cloth, or other fibrous
material. On farms they may inhabit barns, granaries, livestock
buildings, silos, and kennels. In urban or suburban areas they live
in and around residences, in cellars, warehouses, stores,
slaughterhouses, docks, and in sewers. Although they can climb,
Norway Rats tend to inhabit the lower floors of multi-story buildings.
In urban areas most rats remain around the buildings and yards
which provide their necessities, and unless they are disturbed, they
do not move great distances.
Feeding Habits:
Norway Rats will eat nearly any type of food. When given a choice,
they select a nutritionally balanced diet, choosing fresh, wholesome
items over stale or contaminated foods. They prefer cereal grains,
meats and fish, nut, and some types of fruit. Rats require 1/2 to 1
ounce of water daily when feeding on dry foods but need less when
moist foods are available. Food items in household garbage offer a
fairly balanced diet and also satisfy their moisture needs.
Feeding Behavior:
Norway Rats use their keen sense of smell to locate food items and
apparently to recognize other Rats. Norway Rats rely on their sense
of smell to recognize the odors of pathways, members of the opposite
sex who are ready to mate, differentiate between members of their
own colonies and strangers, and to tell if a stranger is a strong or
weak individual. Norway Rats are primarily nocturnal. They usually
become active around dusk, when they begin to seek food and
water. Some individuals may be active during daylight hours when
the Rat population is high, when disturbed (weather change,
construction, etc.) or when their food source is threatened. The
territories of most Rats are between 50 and 150 feet radius of the
nest. In populations where there are many Rats and abundant food
and shelter, the territories will be towards the lower end of the
range. If need be, however, Rats will travel 300 feet or more daily to
obtain their food and water.
Reproduction and Development:
Litters of 6 to 12 young are born 21 to 23 days after conception.
Newborn Rats are naked and their eyes are closed, but they grow
rapidly. They can eat solid food at 2 1/2 to 3 weeks. They become
completely independent at about 3 to 4 weeks and reach
reproductive maturity at 3 months of age, sometimes as early as 8
weeks.
Female Norway Rats may come into heat every 4 or 5 days, and they
may mate within a day after a litter is born. The average female Rat
has 4 to 6 litters per year and may successfully wean 20 or more
offspring annually.
Senses:
Rats have poor eyesight beyond three or four feet, relying more on
their hearing and their excellent senses of smell, taste and touch.
Norway Rats are very sensitive to motion up to 30-50 feet away. They
are considered essentially colorblind.
Norway Rats use hearing to locate objects to within a few inches.
This highly developed sense (combined with their touch sensitivity)
can pinpoint someone rolling over in bed to a six inch area. The
frequency range of their hearing (50 kilohertz or more) is much
higher than that of humans (about 20 kilohertz.)
Norway Rats have a highly developed sense of touch due to very
sensitive body hairs and whiskers which they use to explore their
environment. Much of a rodent’s movement in a familiar area relies
heavily on the senses of touch and smell to direct it through time-
tested movements learned by exploration and knowledge of its home
range. Rodents prefer a stationary object on at least one side of them
as they travel and thus commonly move along walls, a fact which is
very useful when designing a Rodent Elimination Program.
Their sense of taste is excellent, and they can detect some
contaminants in their food at levels as low as 0.5 parts per million.
This highly developed taste sensitivity may lead to bait rejection if
the rodent baits are contaminated with insecticide odors or other
chemicals.
Contact Assassin Exterminating today for all your rat
and mouse removal needs.
Norway Rat Control Services
| Licensed and Regulated by: Texas Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 12847, Austin, TX, 78711-2847 Copyright © 2010 Assassin Exterminating Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
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Fort Worth based Assassin
Exterminating is able to provide
superior Rodent Control and
Elimination results by using only
the highest quality products
available to Pest Management
Professionals. We proudly utilize
products from the following
Manufacturers:
Exterminating is able to provide
superior Rodent Control and
Elimination results by using only
the highest quality products
available to Pest Management
Professionals. We proudly utilize
products from the following
Manufacturers:
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| Contact Assassin Exterminating today and schedule your free pest control inspection and quote. Call our Fort Worth based office at (817) 727-8149. |
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