New Category

Similar Pests:
House Mouse
Northern Long-eared Bat
Little Brown Bat
Indiana Bat
Eastern Small-footed Bat
Silver-haired Bat
Eastern Pipistrelle Bat
Big Brown Bat
Red Bat
Hoary Bat
Evening Bat
Norway and Roof Rat

Common during:
Winter
Spring
Fall


Common locations: Homes
Restaurants
Hospitals

Description:
The Norway rat and the roof rat are not native to
North Americanspecies, travelling to the United
States with the first explorers. The two species
quickly invaded the continent because of their
adaptability and fertility. Norway rats are found
throughout the U.S. while roof rats are primarily
inhabit southeastern, Gulf Coast and southwestern
states. As with any rodent species, successful
control depends on proper identification. Norway and
roof rats differ in size, habits, food preferences and
regions inhabited. Techniques that eliminate one
species may not eliminate the other. Roof and
Norway rats possess the same senses: poor eyesight,
excellent touch, taste, small and hearing. They prefer
a variety of fruit and nuts, and occasionally
consume ornamentals and native plant materials.

Prevention:
Rodent populations are restrained by eliminating food, water and shelter. This includes naturally occurring
water and food. Although the best sanitation never completely eliminates rats, poor sanitation greatly aids
their longevity and spread. Trash and debris should be kept in tightly closed containers and possible nesting
materials off the floor. Store food items in rodent-proof containers. Trim weeds and brush around buildings.
Roof rat control in many areas requires heavy pruning of ivy, thickets or any densely growing plants. The most
successful and permanent form of rat control is to "build-them-out" or rodent-proof structures. Obviously, rats
cannot survive without food, water or shelter. Acute baits are one type of poison baits or rodenticides. They
are cost-effective and work quickly: death occurs anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours after the bait
is eaten. Acute baits should only be used for clean-out situations as there is a danger of rats developing
bait shyness. Bait shyness occurs when rats eat only enough bait to get sick and the symptoms occur
relatively soon after the bait is eaten. The rats then correlate getting sick with the bait. Any bait-shy
rodent will not eat bait for several months.