| The common brown rat (Rattus norvegicus -- also called
the Norway rat or sewer rat) is a destructive animal pest found in and around towns and
farms. These rodents eat and contaminate large amounts of feed, damage structures by their
gnawing and burrowing and may spread diseases that affect livestock and people. Recognizing
Rat Infestations
The presence of rats can be detected by droppings or evidence of fresh gnawing. Tracks can
be seen in mud and on dusty surfaces. Runways and burrows may be found next to buildings,
along fences, and under low vegetation and debris.
 Rat Facts
Norway rats are fairly husky, brownish rodents that weigh about 11 ounces. They are about
13 to 18 inches long including the 6 to 8 1/2 inch tail. Their fur is coarse and mostly
brown with scattered black on the upper surfaces. The underside is typically grey to
yellowish-white.
Rats will eat nearly any type of food, but they prefer high-quality foods such as meat
and fresh grain. Rats require 1/2 to 1 fluid ounce of water daily when feeding on dry
food. Rats have keen taste, hearing, and sense of smell. They will climb to find food or
shelter, and they can gain entrance to a building through any opening larger than 1/2 inch
across.
Rats have litters of 6 to 12 young, which are born 21 to 23 days after mating. Young
rats reach reproductive maturity in about three months. Breeding is most active in spring
and fall. The average female has 4 to 6 litters per year. Rats can live for up to 18
months, but most die before they are one year old.
Rat Control
Sanitation: Poor sanitation and the presence of garbage
allows rats to exist in residential areas. Good sanitation will effectively limit the
number of rats that can survive in and around the home. This involves good housekeeping,
proper storage and handling of food materials and refuse and elimination of rodent
harborage (shelter). Outside dog pens must be properly maintained, to reduce potential rat
problems.
On farms where food grains are handled and stored, or where livestock are housed and
fed, it is difficult to remove all food that rats can use. In such situations, paying
particular attention to removing shelter that rats can use for hiding, resting, and
nesting is valuable in reducing rat numbers.
Warehouses, grain mills, and silos are especially vulnerable to rodent infestation.
Store bulk foods in rodent-proof buildings, rooms, or containers whenever possible. Stack
sacked food on pallets with adequate space left around and under stored articles to allow
inspection for signs of rats. Good sanitary practices will not eliminate rats under all
conditions, but will make the environment less suitable for them to thrive.
Rat-Proof Construction: The most successful and permanent
form of rat control is to "build them out" by making their access to structures
impossible. Ideally, all places where food is stored, processed or used should be
rodent-proof. Store bulk foods, bird seed, and dry pet food in metal trash cans or similar
containers.
Seal any openings larger than 1/4 inch to exclude both rats and mice. Openings where
utilities enter buildings should be sealed tightly with metal or concrete. Equip floor
drains and sewer pipes with tight-fitting grates having openings less than 1/4 inch in
diameter. Doors, windows and screens should fit tightly. It may be necessary to cover
edges with sheet metal to prevent gnawing.
Traps: Trapping is an effective method of control. It is
the preferred method in homes, garages, and other structures where only a few rats are
present. Trapping has several advantages: 1) it does not rely on inherently hazardous
poisons; 2) it permits the user to determine if the rat was killed and 3) it allows for
disposal of rat carcasses, thereby eliminating odor problems which may occur when
poisoning is done within the buildings. Trapping the rats with glueboards such as the Rat Glueboard is a very
convenient method of rat control.
. Set traps or glueboards close to walls, behind objects, in dark corners, and in
places where rat activity is seen. Place the traps so that rats, following their natural
course of travel (usually close to a wall), will pass directly over the trigger or
glueboard.
Use enough traps to make the campaign short and decisive. Leaving traps unset until the
bait has been taken at least once reduces the chances of rats becoming trap-shy.
Using Poison Baits (Rodenticides): Rodenticides are
poisons that kill rodents. They are available as either non-anticoagulants or as
anticoagulants.
The non-anticoagulants cause death either via the nervous system or via the release of
calcium into the bloodstream. Recommended anticoagulants such as Contrac Bait Blocks cause
death as a result of internal bleeding when used according to label directions, which
occurs as the animal's blood loses its clotting ability and capillaries are destroyed.
Most of these baits kill rats only after they are fed on for a number of days. The
exceptions are brodifacoum or bromadiolone, which are capable of causing death after a
single feeding. However, rats do not die for several days. When anticoagulant baits are
used, fresh bait must be made available to rats continuously as long as feeding occurs.
Depending on the number of rats, this may require up to three weeks.
Bait Selection and Placement: Baits are available in
several types. Grain baits in a meal or pelleted form are often available in bulk or
packaged in small plastic, cellophane, or paper packets. These "place packs"
keep baits fresh and make it easy to place baits into burrows, walls, or other locations.
Rats will readily gnaw into these bags to get at an acceptable bait. Block style baits are
also very effective for most baiting situations.
Use of tamper-resistant bait boxes provides a safeguard to people, pets, and other
animals. Place bait boxes next to the walls, with the openings close to the wall, or in
other places where rats are active. When possible, secure the bait station to a fixed
object to prevent it from being moved. Label all bait boxes clearly with the words
"Caution--Rat Bait" or another similar warning.
Sound and Electronic Devices: Rats quickly become
accustomed to regularly repeated sounds. Ultrasonic sounds, those above the range of human
hearing, have very limited use because they are directional and do not penetrate behind
objects. Also, they quickly lose their intensity with distance. There is little evidence
that sound of any type will drive established rats from buildings or otherwise give
adequate control.
Predators and Biological Control: Although house cats,
some dogs, and other predators kill rats, they do not usually give effective rat control.
It is not uncommon to find rats living in very close association with dogs and cats. Rats
frequently live beneath a doghouse and soon learn they can feed on the dog's food when he
is absent or asleep. Many rat problems around homes can be related to the keeping of pets,
on the other hand, some cats and dog breeds will reduce existing rat problems.
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Roof rats thrive in attics, roof spaces, palm trees and ornamental shrubbery. They are
climbers and prefer to nest off the ground. Roof rats are destructive to citrus groves,
since they live in citrus trees and gnaw on the fruit. They can be quite destructive in
attics, gnawing on electrical wires and rafters.
Roof rats generally prefer vegetables, fruits and grain, and consume 1/2 to 1 ounce per
day of food from various sources. Because they must have water to survive, roof rats also
consume an ounce per day and will range 100-150 feet from harborages in search of this and
food.
Color ranges from black to grizzled gray to tan with a light belly. The tail is longer
than the combined head and body. Adults weight from 1/2 to 3/4 pound. Their droppings are
up to 1/2 inch long and spindle-shaped. Roof rats live about 1 year and reach sexual
maturity in 3-5 months. They have 6-8 young per litter and up to 6 litters per year.
Trapping the rats with glueboards such as the Rat Glueboard is a very convenient
method of rat control. Also recommended anticoagulants such as Contrac Bait Blocks cause
death as a result of internal bleeding when used according to label directions, which
occurs as the animal's blood loses its clotting ability and capillaries are destroyed when
used according to the label..
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House mice normally live outdoors in fields, occasionally migrating into structures. In
houses, they live behind walls and in cabinets and furniture.
They prefer to feed on grains but usually nibble at a wide variety of foods. House mice
require only 1/10 ounce of food and 1/20 ounce of water daily, but can survive on food
alone if it has high moisture. Frequently house mice range 10-30 feet from harborages.
House mice are brown to gray in color with the tail as long as the body. Adults weigh
about 1/2 ounce. Their droppings are 1/8 inch long and rod-shaped. House mice live about 1
year and reach sexual maturity in 6 weeks. They have 5-6 young per litter and up to 8
litters per year.
Recommended anticoagulants such as Contrac Bait Blocks cause
death as a result of internal bleeding when used according to label directions, which
occurs as the animal's blood loses its clotting ability and capillaries are destroyed.
Tin Cat Mouse Traps are a very good trap to
be utilized for mice control.This is a live trap which can catch numerous mice at one time
with out being emptied after each catch.Also ( For the trapper) Mouse Glue Boards are a handy
effective tool for catching mice when placed next to the wall where mice frequent.
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Iowa -Illinois Termite & Pest Control Inc.
3909 Marquette St.
Davenport Iowa 52806
(877)-472-2345 Phone
(319)-386-0598 Fax
email info@iailtermite.com
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