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Rattus
rattus
Characteristics –
Size: Larger rodents that may grow to a body length of 10
to 12 inches. Seldom will a rat weigh more than one pound.
Color: Can vary from gray to brown to black.
Found in coastal states, roof rats have long tails, thin bodies, and
large eyes and ears. Rats are more prevalent in urban and rural
areas, and are found in homes less often than mice because of their
larger size.
Behavior –
Few people really like rats or mice, and no one wants them in their
house. Rodents live everywhere outside and could enter at any time,
but fortunately, this does not occur often. Usually, most home
invasions occur in the fall, not because of cooler weather, but
because the seeds and plants on which rodents feed outside are gone.
Rats and mice must then seek new food sources. Unfortunately, one of
these sources may be your home. Rats are excellent climbers and are
capable of gaining entry through holes around soffit vents and
around cables entering the building, through holes in gable vent
screens, and through turbine and box vents on roofs. Many garage
doors on homes allow enough space for rats to fit underneath, as
well.
Habitat – Outside, rats live in fields, wooded
areas, vacant lots, farms, and just about anywhere people have
buildings. Rats are seldom a problem in homes except in urban and
rural areas. This is due in large part to their size, since rats
need a hole about the size of a quarter in order to gain entry into
a building. Rats however, may find harborage in many areas around
the home - especially in stacked firewood, stones and bricks, and
piles of leaves or other debris.
Tips for Control – The best way to avoid
invasions of rats is to (1) provide as little harborage as possible
that might attract rodents, and (2) seal as many holes and cracks in
the outside of the home as possible through which rats might enter.
The following recommendations should be followed to help prevent
rats from seeking the food and shelter provided by your home:
 | Keep
firewood stored as far from the home as possible and store it
off the ground. During the winter, store only enough wood next
to the house to burn every couple of days.
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| If
possible, remove any piles of debris, stones, bricks, etc. If
these are near the foundation of the home they serve as
harborages to attract rodents. Once there, it is any easy step
for rodents to enter the building itself.
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| Seal
any hole or crack larger than 1/4 of an inch. Large holes or
cracks should be stuffed with steel wool or wire mesh before
sealing with caulk or foam, otherwise rodents could chew through
to enter.
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| Install
a good, thick weather-strip on the bottom of all doors to
prevent rodents from entering. The garage door may prove
difficult to seal completely, so the door from the garage to the
house must be sealed tightly.
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