Do Norway Rats Like Cold Weather?

The Norway rat goes by many names including gray rat, brown rat, house rat, common rat, wharf rat, barn rat, water rat, and sewer rat. Regardless of what you call them, these unwelcome little creatures can reach up to 16 inches in length with the female capable of giving birth to up to 20 babies during her lifetime. The bad news is that now is the time of year that rat populations are on the move looking for a nice secure place to overwinter during the cold fall temperatures and that includes homes and businesses in the Northern Virginia area.

Damage Caused by Norway Rats

Norway rats are not only responsible for spreading disease by contaminating food and food preparation areas. They can also be extremely destructive, chewing and gnawing on wood, insulation, and electrical wires. They may even keep you awake at night as they chew and claw creating all sorts of damage inside your walls while leaving a trail of mouse droppings, urinating on surfaces, and destroying insulation to use as nesting material. If you see evidence of one rat, you can pretty much guarantee that there are many more. Other time a group of rats can completely destroy your home not only creating a health hazard by tainting surfaces and water sources, but also by shorting out electrical systems which can lead to fires resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage each year.

Norway Rat Rodent Damage to Attics & Eaves

One of the reasons that Norway rats love to chew is to keep their teeth (which grow continuously throughout their lives) nice and sharp. Rats especially like chewing on eaves, and will chew holes to gain access to them. Once they are inside, they will chew on pipes, and wires leaving droppings everywhere. If left unchecked, Norway rats can chew on wood beams and eaves to the point where the structural integrity of the wood is compromised.

Norway Rats Love Chewing Electrical Wires

Norway rats spend a good deal of their time chewing and gnawing and your electrical wires are a prime target. This can be problematic for a number of reasons, the most important being the stong likelihood of starting a fire. It is not unknown for rats, including Norway rats to chew and gnaw on security system wiring, setting the alarm off in the process.

Signs of Norway Rat Activity in Your Home or Business

Rat Droppings - One of the most obvious signs of rodent activity in your home or business is the presence of rat droppings. An adult Norway rat is capable of producing as many as 40 to 50 droppings per day. Droppings are typically, ¾ inch long, dark brown to black in color and appear blunt at both ends.

Gnaw Marks - The second most common sign that you have Norway rats in your home of business is the evidence of gnawing, particularly on wooden structures such as floor joists and wall studs. Norway rats will also chew into boxes and cartons in search of nesting materials.

Musty Odor - Norway rats produce a strong odor that is often described as musty and they will also leave a greasy film along baseboards and other areas to mark their territory and indicate their presence to other rodents.

Rodent Control & Removal

To learn more about rodent inspections, removal, control and prevention, contact the knowledgeable experts at Eagle Pest Services today.