Pest Advice for Controlling Rats

Rats can indeed be a significant problem for homeowners, not only because of the potential health risks associated with their presence, but also due to the damage they can cause to the home and the potential stress and anxiety they can create for the people living there.

It’s important to take immediate action if you suspect you have a rat infestation in your home. Rats can carry diseases such as Salmonella and Hantavirus, and they can also cause damage to electrical wiring, pipes, and structural elements in the home.

When they’re very hungry, rats will pretty much eat anything they can get their paws on. The rat who isn’t facing starvation does have culinary preferences, however. And some foods can be dangerous, and even deadly, to rats. As omnivores, they consume both animal and plant-based food, requiring a balance of protein, fat, carbohydrates, fruits, nuts, seeds, and vegetables.

Rats generally do not pursue their prey for sustenance but will take advantage of any ready-made meals they stumble upon, such as deceased or weakening small birds (and their eggs), baby rabbits and fish. In cities, rats rummage through trash to find a meal and will eat pieces of meat, edible items belonging to humans and pet food. When building their burrows in gardens, rats devour compost piles as well as harvested fruits and veggies.

A female rat usually gives birth to six broods a year made up of 12 baby rats, although the range is usually 5-10 babies. Rats reach reproductive age after 4-5 weeks, which means that two rats can potentially grow into a population of 1,250 in one year, with the potential to multiply quickly. Their breeding approach is very distinct from that of humans. It is distinguished by quantity more than quality. They generate huge amounts of offspring in the expectation that some will endure long enough to spawn their own broods.