There are quite a few rodents throughout Texas. Mice and rats are pests that frequently intrude into homes and businesses and wreak havoc. Any rodent in your home or business is terrible from the theft of food and materials for nesting to the diseases they spread. In their daily activities, they urinate and defecate wherever they happen to be, they contaminate your food and surfaces, they destroy structure and utility lines, as well as a pose a physical medical threat. In Texas, we are commonly invaded by house mice, deer mice and Norway Rats. Today, we at A Five Star Termite & Pest Control would like to share some of the basics concerning the Norway rats you may find in your Texas home.
How Do I Identify a Norway Rat?
Found around the world, Norway rats are very common rodents and despite their name, it is believed these rats originated in Asia. These rats are fairly discernable if you know what you are looking for. Norway rats feature a blunt muzzle, a short scaly tail, and smaller ears, in comparison to other rats. They have scattered black hairs throughout their coarse fur that ranges in color to variations of brown and gray. The underside of Norway rats is lighter in color of gray or white. Norway rats average 12 ½ – 18 ½ inches in length range in size. Scurrying around on all fours like most rodents, these rats average 10 to 11 ¾ ounces in weight.
What Months are Norway Rats Most Active?
Fall tends to be the more popular time of year when these pests’ infiltrates homes and businesses when the temperatures drop, and food and water becomes scarce, however, Norway rats will invade homes any time of year given the opportunity. Norway rats live socially, burrowing in close proximity to one another and doing daily activities together. Generally, if you see one rat, you can be sure there is more. Once inside they seek undisturbed areas such as under the clutter and debris found in garages. Outdoors Norway rats are likely found in farmland and fields but will take shelter in structures in these areas that offer safety, shelter, and other comforts as well as to flee harsh weather conditions and/or predators. The loose soil is where they prefer to burrow, typically along riverbanks or developed areas around concrete slabs, wood piles, garbage, and other clutter.
Why is the Norway Rat a Problem?
Norway rats have incredibly powerful gnawing capabilities, making them often the culprits when homeowners discover destroyed electrical wires and plumbing pipes, as they are so powerful they can chew through plastic and lead pipes. In addition to the utility lines they can gnaw through, Norway rats can easily tear through food wrapped in flimsy plastic, paper, and cardboard. Once they break into your food supply, they will steal what they can and contaminate the rest with their bodily waste or other bacteria that has attached to their body. Not only do are they vectors of diseases such as rat-bite fever, the plague, cowpox virus, salmonellosis, jaundice, and trichinosis, but it is very probable they carry fleas which can spread and deliver the diseases they carry as well.
Rat & Mice Rodent Inspections, Exclusion, Control, Removal, Management & More in Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Timberwood Park, Leon Valley, Alamo Heights, New Braunfels, Selma, Live Oak, Converse, Universal City, Cibolo, Seguin, New Berlin, St Hedwig, Adkins, La Vernia, Elmendorf, Losoya, Von Ormy, Macdona & San Antonio, Texas
With simple housekeeping, controlling clutter, trimming back vegetation, and storing your food in air-tight containers, you can keep your food and home well protected in conjunction with adequate sealing of your home and preventative pest control services. Whether you need assistance getting rid of Norway rats or simply want help to better protect your home, call A Five Star Termite & Pest Control and our technicians will do the rest.
