Rat Facts About The Norway Rat

Any effort at rodent control in New Orleans must consider how to deal with one of the most common rodents in the area, the Norway rat. Successful rodent control depends on knowing where and how your target lives and breeds. Use this information on the Norway rat’s habits and preferences to help you determine if they’re living around you and what to do if they are

Brown Norway Rat

The Basics
 
The Norway rat probably came to the North American continent around 1775 on ships arriving from Europe. They’re tremendously adaptable and are prolific breeders, capable of producing as many as 12 litters of up to 22 offspring per year. It’s not surprising that they quickly spread to the 48 contiguous states, even though they usually only live one year in the wild. They are often called by names that describe their color (brown or gray) or where they live (house, barn, sewer or wharf).
 
Because of southern Louisiana’s unique environment, New Orleans pest control companies see a lot of Norway rats. These rodents like to live around people. They find a nourishing diet from stored food as well as garbage and safe places to hide in buildings and other shelters. Urban and suburban residential areas offer garages, basements, water features such as docks and even sewers. Rural habitats include barns, kennels and grain storage facilities, where rats particularly like corn, oats and wheat. If they have a choice, rats will opt for fresh food items.
 
Their nests are usually in burrows on low ground or underground. Norway rats can enter structures by jumping, climbing or swimming to burrow inside walls or under foundations. You’ll also find them living around ponds, along stream banks and in garbage dumps.
 
Signs of Infestation
 
Before beginning any rodent extermination attempt, you have to know what you’re dealing with. It’s important to inspect areas around home foundations, along baseboards, and behind and under stored materials for indications of animal activity. These are some common signs that you’re dealing with Norway rats:
 

• Droppings: Rat droppings can be three-fourths of an inch long with blunt ends. They’re often found along the rats’ pathways, near food sources and close to possible shelter. If droppings are soft, they’re fresh.
• Tracks: You may see footprints or tracks made by the rats’ tails. Norway rats have four front toes and five on their hind feet, and only the front part of their foot leaves a print.
• Urine: New Orleans pest control companies can use the presence of urine in combination with other signs to determine the type of pest you have. Inexpensive black lights will cause urine to fluoresce whether it’s wet or dry. It’s commonly found along pathways and where rats feed.
• Smudges: Oil and dirt from the rats’ fur is transferred to walls, pipes and other surfaces as they travel along their regular routes.
• Gnawed surfaces: Rats keep the length of their front teeth in check by gnawing on hard surfaces. Shavings from this activity may be present.
• Entry holes: Because of their size, Norway rats need an entrance that measures about two inches in diameter. Be especially suspicious if holes of that size also show signs of gnawing or smudges.

 
Getting an accurate count of the rats you’re dealing with is impossible, but the evidence you find can help New Orleans pest control companies estimate how severe the problem is:
 

1. Seeing no smudged areas, droppings or signs of gnawing probably means you have few invaders, if any, or that the ones you do have are newcomers.
2. Evidence of gnawing and old droppings, with an occasional nighttime sighting, can indicate a medium level of infestation.
3. Tracks, fresh droppings and daytime sightings can mean that large numbers of rats are present.

 
Ways To Deal With Norway Rats
 
Rats are smart. They memorize the features of their surroundings and are suspicious of any changes they encounter. If they eat a food that makes them ill, it can teach them to avoid that food for some time into the future. New Orleans pest control companies have to outsmart the Norway rat to be successful and often use several methods to eradicate them.
 
Trapping
 
Norway rats are not protected by state or federal law, so the use of traps, with or without bait, is often the first choice. Trapping allows for the removal of trapped animals and can be relatively inexpensive. Unset traps can be placed in areas where rats travel so that they become accustomed to them before setting the trap to spring. It’s also possible to enlarge the trigger area to increase the chance of early success.
 
Using Rodenticides
 
Anticoagulant poisons are often used in today's New Orleans pest control efforts. Because they’re slow-acting, the rats don’t associate any ill feeling with the food they consumed. Offering untainted bait food for several days before applying the toxic substance can increase the chances it will be accepted. When used properly by professionals, rodenticides seldom present dangers to humans, pets or livestock.
 
Rat-Free Living
 
Rodent control efforts can be difficult because of the age of many structures and catastrophic weather damage. Norway and other species of rats find shelter in buildings where they gnaw and burrow through walls, ceilings, doors and floors. While Norway rats are not known to be associated with plague, they can spread diseases such as salmonellosis (food poisoning) to humans as well as livestock, and present the danger of rat-bite fever.
 
If you’ve had to go through eradicating Norway rats, preventing their return is likely high on your list of priorities. Take these steps to thwart them:
 

1. Seal holes and cracks that are one-half inch or more in size. Since rats can gnaw through wood and wallboard, use materials they can’t chew their way through, such as hardware cloth, mortar or metal sheeting.
2. Store garbage in heavy-duty containers that close securely and are rust-resistant, and have trash removed regularly. Placing galvanized steel bins off the ground helps to prevent tip-overs by climbing rats.
3. Feed outdoor pets only what they will eat in one sitting, and store food in metal rodent-proof containers away from walls.

 
For all of these reasons, effective rodent control is important for health and safety. By understanding the basics of Norway rats and rat infestations, you can better assist New Orleans pest control professionals in eradicating these critters from your property.