Vermin Control Rats Complete Guide

Rats are intelligent and resourceful creatures that can thrive in a wide range of environments, from sewers to homes.

They can squeeze through openings as small as a quarter, making them a formidable foe in tight spaces.

Rats are known to carry over 35 diseases, including leptospirosis and hantavirus, which can be transmitted to humans through contact with their urine, feces, or saliva.

Rats are attracted to food sources, especially high-protein foods like pet food, garbage, and even small animal feed.

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Rats are warm-blooded mammals that can be found throughout the world, and they have oversized front teeth for gnawing and cheek teeth for chewing.

There are several species of rats, but the Norway rat and Roof rat are the most common ones that create pest issues in homes and businesses.

The Norway rat is also known as the brown or sewer rat, and it can grow to lengths of about 13-16 inches from its nose to the tip of its tail.

The Roof rat, on the other hand, is smaller than the Norway rat, weighing around 5-10 ounces, and has a more streamlined appearance.

Here are some key differences between the Norway rat and Roof rat:

Understanding the differences between these two species can help you identify which type of rat you're dealing with, and take the necessary steps to control their population and prevent damage to your home.

Rodents are incredibly adaptable and can be a real challenge to get rid of. They can cause significant damage to buildings and agriculture, and are also known carriers of many diseases.

Orkin Pros specialize in customized pest control to help protect your home, garden, and health from rodent infestations. This often requires professional assistance.

A customized rodent control program from Orkin may include exclusion and sealing of sites greater than ½ inch in size, interior and exterior sanitation, and removal of clutter and debris that creates hiding places for rats.

A customized rodent control program from Orkin may also include:

Rodents are some of the most adaptable creatures on the planet and can be extremely difficult to exterminate. Rodent infestations can cause considerable damage to infested buildings and local agriculture. They are also known carriers of many diseases and prove a health hazard to humans.

Rodent populations grow quickly and steadily, so rodent control is best started prior to infestations. This means it's essential to take proactive measures to prevent rodent infestations.

Here are some common methods Orkin uses to control rodent infestations:

Rodent control using chemical products involves bait designed to kill rats, but it requires careful placement and adherence to the product's label instructions. This is crucial to prevent accidental exposure to non-target animals or people.

Rodents, like rats, mice, and chipmunks, can carry many diseases that can be spread to people. These diseases can be spread through handling rodents, contact with their droppings, urine, or saliva, and even rodent bites.

Handling rodents directly puts you at risk of contracting diseases. This is because rodents can carry diseases that don't cause any apparent illness in them, making it hard to tell if a rodent is carrying a disease just by looking at it.

Rodent droppings, urine, and saliva can spread diseases through the air or contaminated food. This is why it's essential to remove food sources, water, and items that provide shelter for rodents to prevent infestation.

Infestation of rodents in and around the home is the main reason disease spreads from rodents to people. Removing the things that attract rodents is key to preventing this.

To prevent rodent infestation and contact with rodents, you should remove:

Rats are opportunistic feeders, and their diet reflects this. They'll eat just about anything, including fruits, grains, seeds, and grocery produce.

Roof rats are particularly fond of insects, while Norway rats prefer meat or meat-related waste. In fact, Norway rats may even prey upon fish, poultry, mice, birds, small reptiles, and amphibians.

Norway rats are not picky eaters, and their diet is often influenced by what's available to them. They'll eat vegetation if it's convenient, but they tend to opt for a meat-based diet when possible.

Norway rats can be found in a variety of habitats, including garbage dumps, sewers, and fields. They're also known to burrow into soil along building foundations, under woodpiles, and other piles of debris.

In urban areas, Norway rats are often seen scurrying around after dark, looking for food in garbage cans and other places where human refuse is found.

Roof rats are adept climbers and prefer to build their nests in aboveground locations such as shrubs, trees, and dense vegetation.

Roof rats often enter homes through raised or secure enclosures like walls, cabinets, attics, and false ceilings. They are generally found in coastal, near-coastal areas, and port cities.

Roof rats are primarily active at night and their long tail is adapted to enhance their ability to climb and balance.

Roof rats are not accomplished swimmers and are not usually found in sewers.

Rats are opportunistic eaters, and their diet reflects this. They'll consume just about anything they can find.

Roof rats are particularly fond of fruits, grains, seeds, and grocery produce. They'll even eat insects if they come across them.

Norway rats, on the other hand, prefer meat or meat-related wastes. They'll eat just about anything that's near where humans discard food.

These rats may also prey upon fish, poultry, mice, birds, small reptiles, and amphibians. They're not picky eaters, and their diet reflects this.

In fact, rats destroy far more foodstuffs by contamination from feces and urine than from consumption. This is a problem for people who store food, as rat droppings can contaminate food and spread disease.

Roof rats are incredibly prolific breeders, with adult females able to reproduce at just 3-5 months old.

They can produce up to five litters each year, with each litter containing about 5-8 young.

This means that one female roof rat can have up to 50 young per year.

Norway rats are also skilled breeders, with females producing about seven litters per year and mating again just 18 hours after giving birth.

Their reproductive potential is staggering, with one female Norway rat able to have about 50-60 young per year.

To prevent rat infestations from coming back, it's essential to keep trash picked up and placed in covered, rat-resistant containers.

You should also promptly remove or repair any shelter areas, such as fences and old appliances, to discourage rats from nesting.

Periodically check for new entry holes into neighborhood buildings, and seal them up quickly to prevent re-infestation.

To effectively control rats, you'll want to consider a combination of methods. Trapping is a preferred method for indoor control, allowing you to know if a rat has been trapped and removing the carcass to avoid bad odors and secondary insect infestations.

For outdoor rat control, tamper-resistant bait stations and rodenticide bait blocks are effective tools. Place 4-6 bait stations around the structure, with one at each corner and one by the front and rear entrances. Bait stations should be anchored to prevent non-target animals and children from removing them.

The right bait can make all the difference in attracting rats to traps. Ideal baits include those that give off an aroma, such as bacon, canned tuna, nuts, or nut butters. To prevent rodents from removing unsecured bait without setting off the trap, tie the bait to the trigger.

Remember, baits can take up to 5-10 days to kill rats after they've eaten a lethal dose. Be patient and check the stations regularly to replenish the bait as needed.

Rodenticide baits are a popular method for controlling rat populations, especially outdoors. They come in the form of tamper-resistant bait stations, rodenticide bait blocks, patio blocks, and liquid nails.

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For effective outdoor rat control, it's recommended to use 4-6 bait stations around the structure, placing one at each corner and additional ones near entrances. More bait placements with smaller amounts of bait are more effective than fewer placements with more bait.

To anchor the bait stations, you can use accessories provided by the manufacturer or purchase patio blocks and caulk adhesive from a home improvement store. This will prevent non-target animals and children from removing the station.

Rodenticide baits can take up to 5-10 days to kill rats after they've eaten a lethal dose, so it's essential to be patient. It's also common not to see dead rats, as they often return to their nesting areas before succumbing to the bait.

To keep rats under control, it's crucial to implement a year-round baiting program, especially when fruit trees are in season, as the rats will feed on the ripe fruits instead of the bait.

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Security Vulnerabilities are a major concern when it comes to rat infestations. Rats can squeeze through openings as small as a dime, so it's essential to seal any cracks or holes in walls or foundations.

Rats can also dig under house foundations if they are shallow enough, so it's crucial to check for any weak spots in your home's foundation. This is especially true if you live in an older home or one with a shallow foundation.

Rats can enter buildings through open windows, doors, sidewalk grates, or vents, so be sure to check these areas regularly for any signs of rat activity. In fact, rats can even squeeze through openings in the foundation or wall for pipes or wires.

Here are some common entry points for rats:

By identifying and sealing these entry points, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of a rat infestation in your home.

Rats are incredibly adaptable creatures that can thrive on just an ounce of food and water daily. They quickly adjust to their surroundings and can be found living in neighborhoods where people live.

Rats prefer to feed in and around homes, restaurants, and businesses, but they'll also settle for scraps from trash bags and cans, private yards, and community refuse disposal and transfer stations. They get the shelter they need from tall weeds and grass, fences and walls, rubbish piles, and abandoned appliances.

A community effort is essential in controlling rats, as they can move freely in and out of buildings. If your neighbors take steps to control rats, it can encourage them to move into a nearby building. It's essential to work together with your community to prevent rats from entering buildings and removing their food and shelter.

Here are some steps you can take as part of a community effort:

By working together, you can effectively control rats and prevent them from coming back.

Regular inspection of your home or business is key to identifying signs of rodents before they become a problem.

Rodent droppings can be found in hidden areas like cabinets and drawers, and are often pointed at one end with hair present.

Gnaw marks are another sign of rodent activity, caused by their need to gnaw to create better access points and keep their teeth at the proper length.

These marks are often found in the same areas as droppings, and can be a good indication that rodents were active in the area at some point.

Cleaning the area can help determine if there is an active rodent presence, as new droppings or gnaw marks appearing after cleaning indicate a current infestation.

Rats are sneaky creatures, and identifying them can be a challenge. Let's start by looking at their appearance.

Norway rats, also known as brown or sewer rats, are large and bulked-up, growing up to 13-16 inches in length. Their coloration is primarily gray on the underside and reddish or grayish-brown to black on top. They have hairless ears and a shorter tail.

Roof rats, on the other hand, are smaller and more streamlined, weighing in at around 5-10 ounces. Their tails are longer than their body and are uniformly dark colored.

Here's a quick comparison of Norway and Roof rats:

Remember, these are just some of the key characteristics to look out for when trying to identify rats.

Rodent droppings are a common sign of rodent presence, often found in cabinets, drawers, and other areas out of plain sight. They're pointed at one end and may contain hair.

Regular inspection of your home or business is crucial to identify signs of rodents before they become established. This includes checking for rodent droppings and gnaw marks.

Gnaw marks are another sign of rodent presence, as rats and mice gnaw to create better access points and keep their teeth at the proper length. These marks are distinct and often found in the same area as droppings.

If you find gnaw marks, it's essential to determine if there's an active rodent population. One way to do this is to safely clean the area. If droppings are present after cleaning, it indicates an active rodent presence.

Here are some common signs of rodent presence to look out for:

Remember, the sooner you identify signs of rodents, the easier it will be to control them. Regular inspection and prompt action can help prevent rodent infestations from becoming established.

Rodents can spread diseases to people through direct and indirect contact.

Direct contact with infected rodents can lead to the transmission of diseases through breathing in contaminated air, touching contaminated materials, and then touching eyes, nose, or mouth. They can also spread by being bitten or scratched by an infected rodent, or eating food contaminated by an infected rodent.

Some diseases that can be spread directly by rodents include Anaplasmosis, Borreliosis, Flea-borne (Murine) Typhus, Lyme disease, Plague, Rickettsialpox, Scrub typhus, Tick-borne Relapsing Fever, and Tularemia.

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Indirect contact with rodents can occur through the bites of ticks, mites, fleas, and mosquitoes that have fed on infected rodents. Diseases can also spread to people from rodents through the consumption of an intermediate host, such as beetles or cockroaches.

Here are some examples of diseases that can be spread indirectly by rodents:

Snap traps are the best way to get rid of rats inside your home, as they allow you to dispose of the dead rodent safely.

It's essential to use wooden base snap traps and enlarge the traps by fastening a 2-inch square of cardboard to each trigger, making them more effective.

Place the traps behind boxes and against walls, so the rats must pass over the trigger, and be sure they're out of reach of children and pets.

Fasten food attractive to rats, such as peanut butter or raisin bread, tightly on the trigger of each trap, and don't let the trap run out of bait.

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Poison baits can be used outside, but must be used carefully to prevent accidental poisoning or illness to children and pets.

To use poison, choose a rat poison like warfarin, chlorophaconone, or Pival, and read the label carefully before you begin.

Feed the poison daily for six to 10 days, and make sure the baits are clearly marked and put in secure areas that might attract rats.

Remove the baits when all signs of rats are gone, and follow the label's instructions on how to dispose of the leftover poison.

If there are still signs of rats after a month or two, skip a month and start again to prevent the rats from building up resistance to the poison.

Remember to always wear rubber, latex, vinyl, or nitrile gloves when handling dead rodents and their urine, feces, or nests, and open doors to unoccupied structures to air them out before entering and cleaning.