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Hi, everyone! Welcome to Bug Talk. I’m
your host Ryan Haynes and I am here to
tell you the top 5 things you need to
know about rats.
The first thing you need to know about
rats is they are a diverse group of
rodents. Rats can be found all over the
world living in forests, deserts and cities.
Basically, rodents can live pretty much
anywhere. They are highly adaptable
and resilient animals living in close
proximity to humans in order to have
access to food and shelter.
Identification is key to understanding
rats. The most common type of rats are
the brown rat also known as the Norway
rat. Some people even refer to the
Norway rat as “sewer rats’. The black rat
and the roof rat are also common in
Florida. Rats can vary in size depending
on which type of rat it is. Most people
recognize rats by their robust bodies
and long tails. The majority of rats have
black, brown or gray fur. Rats have
strong teeth allowing them to chew
through glass, cinder block, wire and
aluminum.
Coming in at number 3 is rat behavior.
Rats are primarily nocturnal, meaning
they will be most active at night. They
usually live in colonies and are
considered to be social animals. Rats
are able to communicate with each
other using vocalizations, body
language and even scent markings.
Rats eat a diverse diet too, mostly
eating grains, vegetables and insects.
They have even been known to eat
meat on occasions. The bottom line
here is rats are scavengers and will eat
just about anything they can find.
Number 4 this week is the impact
rodents can have. Rats reproduce
rapidly. Female rats can have up to
6 litters per year with up to 12 pups per
litter. This alone can lead to a serious rat
problem if not identified quickly. Rats
can also carry and transmit various
diseases to humans through their feces,
urine and bites. Historically, rats are
responsible for spreading bubonic
plague also known as the “Black Death.”
Rats can have serious health
implications if they are not under control.
Did you know an adult rat can squeeze
into your home through a hole the size
of a quarter? This doesn’t give many
homeowners peace of mind.
There are a few things you can do to
make your home less enticing to rats.
First, make sure you identify any entry
points surrounding your home. Next,
seal or repair any access points found.
Make sure there is no organic material
in or around your home. Rats will eat
almost anything so keeping your home
clean and properly storing food will help
make your home less of a target for rats.
This concludes our top 5 this week.
If you are seeing signs of rats at your
home don’t forget to give us a call. We
can come up with a treatment plan that
is right for you.
Thank you for joining us today.
Remember, if it crawls or fly’s we’re your
guys!