Rodents are no stranger to the locals of Virginia.  With mice and rats invading homes and business, they are notoriously recognizable and no one is too comfortable with them around.  Generally, any rodent infesting your home can mean the potential spread of germs, bacteria, diseases, and viruses in addition to the damage they cause foraging for food and nesting materials, including the food they contaminate. Today, we at Eagle Pest Services would like to touch on the fundamentals of the common rats in Virginia, which are Norway and Roof Rats.

 

The body of the roof rat averages between 6” and 8” long; weighing about 5 – 12 ounces.   The roof rat’s tail is typically longer than their bodies which typically adds another 7-10 inches from the tips of the nose to the end of their tails.  Their coloring comes in an assortment of colors that range in a variety of including brown and black blends, variations grays, whites, and blocks.   A roof rat’s fur is smooth and soft. However, their large ears are nearly furless and they feature very pointy muzzles and large eyes.

 

Roof rats typically find entry by wiggling in through vents, utility lines, or other damaged areas on the roof as they have a remarkable ability to climb. They generally only come inside to escape harsh weather conditions or when food or water is scarce and they are desperate to find food. If they manage to get inside, they are frequently discovered attics, above ceilings, behind walls, and on top of cabinetry. While living outdoors, roof rats prefer the coverage of the tall and dense trees and other forms of vegetations.   

 

In comparison to roof rats, Norway rats are a bit fuller and longer.  They weigh about 14-17 ounces and from the tip of the nose to the end of their tails they average 17 inches long.  Unlike roof rats, their tails are shorter than their bodies.  These rats are very adaptable and can live just as comfortably outside as they do inside.   In the outdoors, Norway rats stick to the high vegetation areas like tall and dense shrubs and grass to conceal their activities.   They look for protection from such predators that include house cats, spotted skunks, and barn owls for example. They will hide in abandoned burrows and underneath sidewalks and outdoor structures if need be. Typically, Norway rats are more grounded, skulking around the basements or ground floors, but should the need arise; they can traverse power lines and rooftops.   Norway rats are omnivorous, like most other rodents, but they prefer animal matter, grains, vegetables and fruits and in farming communities they will eat eggs and young poultry when they are hungry enough. The reproduction rates are fairly high with Norway rats.   With an average 21-23 gestation time, females average 7 babies at a time but can have anywhere between 2 and 14 at one time.  Because babies are born hairless and blind it takes up to 17 days alone before their eyes open, the babies rely on their mothers for survival f or the first 2-4 weeks.  Though reproduction does slow down considerably during the winter months, they can still do so all year long and they live 2-3 years.