Norway Rat

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As with any type of rodent, Norway rats carry bacteria, parasites, viruses and spread disease. In a home their presence is especially undesireable for the aforementioned reasons, and other reasons such as the problems from fecal matter, food spoilage and bites. Additional dangers can be created when Norway rats chew the insulation from electrical wires (fire hazard) or die in wall cavities and create terrible smells. Similar to the roof rat, a Norway rat is larger and chunkier, and the tail is shorter than the length of head and body.

The Norway rat, or brown rat, lives in the wild and alongside humans in homes and buildings. They are ofeth found near feed stores, food storage facilities, garbage dumpsters or dumps, and in abandoned buildings. Although more at home on the ground, these rats are adept at climbing and have been observed traveling along telephone wires from one building to another. Due to their habits of multiplying rapidly they can quickly become quite numerous, destructive, and a serious health threat.

These rats are prolific breeders. The gestation period varies from 21 to 23 days and the number of young from two to 14, averaging seven or eight. At birth they are blind, naked, and helpless. They grow rapidly; their eyes open in 14-17 days and they are weaned when 3 or 4 weeks old. There is no delimited breeding season, but there is a tendency for a slow-up in reproduction during fall and winter. The life span is reported to be 2-3 years.

Although these rats are preyed upon by a number of animals including the spotted skunk, owls, hawks, and cats, these predators often are not able to keep the rat population under control. They are known to be carriers of bubonic plague (transmitted to man by the bite of a flea or other insect), endemic typhus fever, rat bite fever, and a few other nasty diseases. Every effort should be made to exterminate Norway rats when they are found on your premises, and it is advisable to rat-proof garbage cans homes, and buildings to block their entry.

Using the traditional rat trap is still effective to kill a single mouse, however there is no assurance that you are dealing with only a single rat. Additionally, handling rats is unsanitary and is not palatable for everyone. Commercial businesses, especially restaurants, cannot afford to have their customers see rat traps scattered about their business. Our rat control methods are discreet, safe and effective. Call us for more details, and to request and inspection or rodent control service.

People with rodent problems should visit the following links to learn about other rodents in Georgia.