Rat Health Concerns

Accumulations of rat feces can spread bacteria. Rats can also contaminate food sources and add to allergic reactions in humans. Once the fecal matter becomes dry, it can be very hazardous to breathe, potentially spreading diseases such as Hantavirus, Bubonic Plague, Salmonellosis, Rat-Bite Fever. Therefore, sanitation and decontamination are an extremely important part of rat control after removing the rats and excluding them from the structure. Never sweep up dry droppings as this aerates the dust and makes it easier to breathe. If vacuuming, be sure to use a vacuum equipped with HEPA Filtration.

Rodents are warm-blooded mammals that, like humans, can be found throughout the world. Rats live and thrive in a wide variety of climates and conditions and are often found in and around homes and other buildings, on farms, and in gardens and open fields. They have oversized front teeth for gnawing and check teeth, which are adapted for chewing. Rodents chew on a variety of items available to them and cause great damage in and around homes.

Rats will eat just about anything, but they prefer grains, meats and some fruits. Rats will eat about 10 percent of their body weight every day. Rats generally live about a year, but can live much longer in ideal conditions. They eat and contaminate food, damage structures and property, and transmit parasites and diseases to other animals and humans.

Rats are active mostly at night. They have poor eyesight, but they make up for this with their keen senses of hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Rats constantly explore and learn, memorizing the locations of pathways, obstacles, food and water, shelter, and features of their environment. They quickly detect and tend to avoid new objects and novel foods. Thus, they often avoid traps and baits for several days or more following their initial placement.