There are many pests that roam across the Colorado borders, and rodents are no exception. House mice, Norway rats, woodrats, voles and gophers are among the most common in the area. Rodents inside homes and businesses can be detrimental to your health and rein destruction where it will cost you significantly over long-term infestations. Rodents can spread a number of diseases and pathogens through feces and urine and even mere contact. Today, we at Effective Pest Services would like to elaborate a little further on Norway Rats.
What Does a Norwegian Rat Look Like?
Believed to have originated from Asia, Norway Rats are among the most common rat found all over the world. With their extraordinary gnawing capabilities that cause extensive damage to the structure and especially utility lines, even lead piping. In comparison to other common rats in the U.S, Norway rats feature smaller eyes, ears, as well as a shorter scaly tail and they have a blunt muzzle. Their coarse fur is typically brownish or grayish and they have scattered black hairs throughout the coloring. However, their feet and undersides are lighter, generally variations of gray or white color. Adults range in size, their tail alone makes up 5 ¾ – 8 ½ inches of their 12 ½ – 18 ½ inches in length. Like most rodents, these rats scurry around agilely on 4 feet and weight between 10 and 11 ¾ ounces.
Where Can You Find Norway Rats?
Norway rats will invade any structure throughout any time of the year, but they do make their way inside homes and businesses more readily during the fall when temperatures drop and natural foods become scarce. Norway rats are social pests, burrowing their nests close together and will actively stick together in their daily habits. Outdoors Norway rats will infest the farmlands and fields and any structures in these natural habits can easily become infested as they look for safety and harborage from weather and other elements. They tend to be drawn to the loose soil around riverbanks as well as developed areas, such as concrete slabs under clutter, wood piles, and garbage. If they find a way into your home or business, they favor nesting in undisturbed areas such as basements and seek refuge under ant clutter and debris.
What Damage Does the Norway Rat Do?
As they forage for food and water sources, Norway rats do the most damage to the structure, pipes and other utility lines. As they gnaw through your packaged food, they can potentially contaminate the food with their bodily waste. Such diseases include cowpox virus, jaundice, trichinosis, plague, rat-bite fever, and salmonellosis. Not only so, Norway rats are known hosts for fleas, delivering a flea infestation and the additional diseases they carry into your Ohio home or business.
How to Prevent Invasions of Norway Rats
Avoiding clutter, such as firewood piles, around the foundation can minimize the risk of an infestation. Eliminate cover areas where they prefer to burrow, store firewood away from the home’s foundation and elevate it 18 inches off the ground. Seal any gaps, cracks, or holes on the exterior of your home or business with a silicone caulk. Remove moisture and water sources by repairing leaks and store food in pest-proof containers with secure lids. Should you see any contaminated food that have gnaw marks, and greasy rub marks left behind from their fur or rodent droppings, toss it and call professional pest control.
Rodent Inspections, Exclusion, Control, Removal & More in Wellington, Fort Collins, Timnath, Greeley, Longmont, Boulder, Johnstown, Berthoud, Estes Park & Loveland, CO | Northern Colorado
Like most rodents, Norway rats can reproduce quickly, if you suspect them call Effective Pest Services as soon as possible before the infestation grows.
