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Norway Rat Facts

For the most part, Norway rats are the rodents that populate American cities. Norway rats are stocky burrowing rodents that are not native to North America and they’re not from Norway either. They are actually native to Asia and arrived in England via Norwegian ships and then introduced unintentionally by settlers who arrived on ships from Europe in 1775.

 

What Do Norway Rats Look Like?

Some Norway rats can reach 12-18 inches in length, with 5 to 8-inch long tails and can weigh up to a pound. They have fur that is coarse and usually brownish or reddish gray in color and whitish gray on the belly. Some areas have Norway rats that are blackish in color. They are nocturnal and will come out at dusk to dig burrows, construct nests and look for food. They are natural burrowers that will establish outdoor nests under piles of trash, woodpiles and concrete foundations. They are extremely good at burrowing and will do it through cement foundations. This can lead to major damage to buildings. Rats are estimated to cause a yearly total of about $1 billion in property damage across the United States. Their burrows can be built 12 to 18 inches underground and can be about 10 inches in diameter. You may be able to figure out where the burrow is by looking for the “rat run” that leads to the opening of the burrow. They would rather live outdoors but don’t have problem making their way into your house. Inside they will build nests in wall voids and areas of clutter with undisturbed debris like storage spaces. They can contaminate food consumed by humans and can transmit serious diseases like hantavirus, jaundice, plague and rat bite fever. They can also be a host for fleas and lice.

 

Norway Rat Prevention

Norway rats are also good climbers so keep vegetation trimmed and don’t allow creeping plants to grow up the house. Tree guards can be installed to keep them from climbing up the trees and into your house. Droppings can be a big indication that you’re having an issue with rats. Norway rat droppings are half an inch long and blunted. One rat is capable of producing 50 droppings per day. Can you image the mess you’d be dealing with? You may notice gnawing damage on plaster, plastic, soft metal and wood. Footprints and runways are another indication of rodent activity as they will travel the same paths when they are out of their nest. You can even hear them if they’re nesting in the wall voids. You may hear audible squeaking noises and gnawing sounds. Overall the key to rodent control is sanitation, elimination of their shelter and rodent-proofing the structure. Norway rats get to be their size by feeding on garbage and lots of it! They can chew through plastic garbage cans so they always have a steady source of food. Metal trash cans can deter them from feeding on your garbage. They are especially attracted to bulk grains and meat in our homes and pet food. Use mason jars or metal tins to store foods and clean up spilled pet food, especially outside.

 

Rodent Control

Contact Eagle Pest Services at the first sign of a rat infestation. It’s the best way to ensure complete elimination of the problem and no future problems. Give us a call today!