Rodents, like mice and rats, can scamper into property through just about any hole or crack. They often carry diseases and bacteria and can transmit those things to food. In addition, they leave behind droppings that can cause allergic reactions, serious diseases, and other health risks in humans. Even one rodent can cause you, your employees and your customers a lot of harm.

TYPES OF RATS

• Norway rats, Rattus norvegicus, sometimes called brown or sewer rats, are stocky burrowing rodents that are larger than roof rats.

Their burrows are found along building foundations, beneath rubbish or woodpiles, and in moist areas in and around gardens and fields.

• Roof rats, R. rattus, sometimes called black rats, are slightly smaller than Norway rats. Unlike Norway rats, their tails are longer than their heads and bodies combined. Roof rats are agile climbers and usually live and nest above ground in shrubs, trees, and dense vegetation such as ivy. In buildings, they are most often found in enclosed or elevated spaces such as attics, walls, false ceilings, and cabinets.

DAMAGE CAUSED BY RATS

1. Both rat species cause problems by gnawing on electrical wires and wooden structures such as doors, ledges, corners, and wall material, and they tear up insulation in walls and ceilings for nesting.
2. Norway rats can undermine building foundations and slabs with their burrowing activities and can gnaw on all types of materials, including soft metals such as copper and lead, as well as plastic and wood.
3. If roof rats are living in the attic of a residence, they can cause considerable damage with their gnawing and nest-building activities.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF RAT INFESTATION?

1. Do you see rat droppings?
2. Do you hear noises from the ceiling/attic?
3. Do you see burrows?
4. Do you see rats travelling along utility lines?
5. Do you see rat nest behind boxes or in drawers or in the garage?
6. Do you see burrows beneath your compost pile or beneath the garbage skip?

WHAT TO DO?

1. Sanitation is fundamental to rat control and must be continuous.
2. If you operate a factory, install tamper proof bait stations. TERMINEX will visit your location and offer you a feasible Bait Station Layout.
3. Good housekeeping in and around buildings will reduce available shelter and food sources for Norway rats and, to some extent, roof rats.
4. Neat, off-the-ground storage of pipes, lumber, firewood, crates, boxes, gardening equipment, and other household goods will help reduce the suitability of the area for rats and also will make their detection easier.
5. Collect garbage, trash, and garden debris frequently, and ensure all garbage receptacles have tight-fitting covers.
6. Where dogs are kept and fed outdoors, rats can become a problem if there is a ready supply of dog food. Feed your pet only the amount of food it will eat at a feeding, and store pet food in rodent-proof containers.
7. For roof rats in particular, thinning dense vegetation will make the habitat less desirable.
8. Remove overhanging tree limbs within 3 feet of the roof.
9. Separate the canopy of densely growing plants to make it more difficult for rats to move across.

Did You Know?

Did you know that a rat only needs a high of ¼ “ to enter a building?