Rats
Basics
The Norway is the most common rat in the Beeches. Also known as the common, street, sewer, Hanover, and Norwegian rat, it has spread broadly throughout the world.
Brown or gray, the head and body length comes in at around 28 cm with a tail that is somewhat shorter than that. They weigh in the 140 to 500g range.
These rats reach sexual maturity in about five weeks from birth and can reproduce throughout the year. With litters averaging seven – but going as high as 14 – and with a gestation period of three weeks, populations can explode. In other words, if there is a rat problem, it should be handled right away.
Dangers and Damages
There is a danger of bites and the transmission of disease (see below). In addition, rats can leave holes in lawns and wreck insulation and other materials in houses when they build their nests.
Diseases
Diseases can be spread through bite, droppings, or by intermediary vectors (ticks, fleas). These diseases include:
- E. coli
- Salmonellosis
- Leptospirosis
- Rat-bite fever
- Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
- Weil’s disease
- Cryptosporidiosis
Removal
Removing rats from a home or business requires checking for and blocking points of access as well as eliminating the existing population. It is best to contact a professional to handle this.
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