Rats can be found anywhere and will chew on just about anything. If left untreated, they can pose a hazard to you and your home. Below are some common questions about rats.
Rats are social creatures. They like to be with other rats and tend to form very tight family bonds. Inevitably, a hierarchy develops in rat populations, consisting of one dominant rat and several subordinates. Although this is typically found amongst male rats, female rats display hierarchies as well.
Rat populations can be found in rural, suburban, and urban areas, especially if there’s a water source nearby. Rats need a water source in order to survive. They are excellent swimmers and can tread water for up to three days, holding their breath for a long time. This is how rats can survive being flushed down toilets or come back up through them to access your home.
Rats are outstanding climbers and will climb trees and get into your home via the roof. They have great memories, so once they map out a room, they will remember all of the routes for a long time. However, rats do have poor eyesight, so they have to use their whiskers to get around. They use their tails for balancing purposes and to regulate their body temperatures. They can also communicate with other rats via their tails.
Rats don’t seem to mind the rain, but they will avoid being soaked if they can help it. They prefer dry, sheltered areas and will seek cover during heavy rainfall. However, since they are strong swimmers and can survive in wet environments, rain alone usually won’t drive them away. They may even use wet weather as a reason to come indoors in search of drier shelter. Professional pest control may be needed to help block common entry points to prevent rats from entering your home or commercial premises.
Wild rats are nocturnal, but primarily crepuscular, which means they are most active during dusk and dawn. This helps them avoid predators and human activity while searching for food. This rat fact explains why you might hear them moving around your home after dark. Their nocturnal nature also makes rodent control more difficult.
All rats are omnivores and opportunists. They have very sharp teeth and constantly growing enamel, so they have to chew on hard or rough objects to control the growth. They like to chew on just about anything. But what do rats like to eat? Rats will eat pretty much anything that they come across, including carcasses.
City rats, wild rats, and non-urban rats all tend to eat different things. In the wild, rats will eat things like fruit, plants, and seeds, and are more likely to be vegetarians. However, city rats like to eat garbage and meat. They will consume pet food and any human food that they come across. That's why it is important to make sure food sources and trash bins are secured. If you have outdoor pets, their pet food needs to be stored securely and indoors if possible.
Yes, rats can eat dead rats. This behavior is usually driven by extreme hunger or competition for resources, especially in overcrowded or food-scarce environments. While it may sound shocking, it’s one of many rat facts that highlight how adaptable and opportunistic these rodents are.
Pet rats typically live two to four years with proper care, while wild rats usually survive less than a year due to predators, disease, and environmental hazards.
Pet rats live longer because they usually have regular access to food, clean living spaces, and veterinary care. They’re kept safe from predators and harsh conditions, which helps increase their life expectancy. Wild rats, on the other hand, are exposed to predators, disease, harsh weather conditions, and a constant need to find food and shelter. As a result, rats in the wild usually have much shorter lifespans than domesticated rats.
When looking for a nesting site, rats are looking for several key things:
As for where rats like to nest in particular, it depends on the species.
Rats become active at night, particularly around dusk and near dawn. Norway rats that have created burrows in your yard can use plastic drain pipes to get into the basements and look for food. Black rats that have nested in the walls or attics will run between the walls, using their remarkable climbing abilities to get around and look for food.
It turns out there are a few risks that come with a rat infestation. It’s these that make the need for contacting a professional rat control expert so critical when rats are found around the home. Here are some of the risks of allowing rats to stay on your property or within your home.
You may have heard that rats were to blame for the Black Plague that devastated Europe in the Dark Ages. It was actually a bacterium that was spread through fleas and parasites on the rats that caused the disease, but the fact that rats are prone to parasites like fleas and ticks means that they can bring those and the underlying diseases closer to you and your family. Rats are also associated with hantaviruses and Leptospirosis.
Yes, rats can create fires. Their tendency to chew, combined with their ability to get into walls and other spaces, means that they can become a danger when they come in contact with electrical wires. The insulation around electrical wires is often a very tempting treat for rats.
Once the insulation has been stripped from the wires, they pose a serious electrical hazard. This can end up causing something as relatively simple as the malfunction of an electrical device or something more serious. The exposed wires can create an electrical short that can set drywall and wood on fire. There have been cases where fires and even explosions have been traced back to shorts in wires that were chewed on by rats.
Rats will get inside using any crack or crevice. Norway rats have been known to climb up sewer pipes and into toilets. They can even chew their way through the wall. Black rats are known to use sewers for transportation and to get inside when they need to, and if all else fails, to climb to your roof and enter through your attic.
So how can you get rid of rats once they are inside? It is usually best to contact a pest control professional. It can also be very hard to find and reach rat nests that are within walls and crevices in attics or basements. Getting rid of rats once they have established a nest inside is difficult, but there are things you can do to prevent rats from invading at all.
Western Exterminator has been the leading expert in rat control services for decades. If you think that you have rats, contact us online for a free property inspection and to discuss your options for rat control and prevention. We’ll work with you to find the right solution to remove and keep rats away from your property for good.
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