Ecoguard

Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus. Many members of other rodent genera and families are also referred to as rats, and share many characteristics with true rats. Rats are typically distinguished from mice by their size; rats are generally large muroid rodents, while mice are generally small muroid rodents. The muroid family is very large and complex, and the common terms rat and mouse are not taxonomically specific. Generally, when someone discovers a large muroid, its common name includes the term rat, while if it is small, the name includes the term mouse. Scientifically, the terms are not confined to members of the Rattus and Mus genera, for example the pack rat and cotton mouse.

 

 House mouse

Norway rat

Roof rat

1-2'' to 8-9'' long

Rats tend to be very shy and cautious animals. When confronted with a new object in their environment (such as a trap), they will often avoid it for days until they are used to its presence in the area. Rats usually travel the same pathways over and over and over. This is because once they have found a proven safe route, they stick to it. They also have poor eyesight, but they leave behind a strong pheromone odor telling them where to run. They secrete oil from their fur, and this leaves the scent behind, along with brown smudges. Of course, they also make use of urine markings. Rats are considered colonizing animals within groups, and that is the reason why attics can contain several of them

 

Rats live about 90% of their lives above ground. They spend much of their time in trees or other thick vegetation off of the ground. Any good cover with small hiding spaces will do. Woodpiles, debris, and garbage piles make great habitat. People don't often see rats out in the wild, because they are nocturnal, and because the slink around in the shadows, and in the heaviest vegetation. They dart from place to place quickly, when they sense that it is safe. When they sense a threat in the area, they will often hold still.

 

 

From the transmission of bubonic plague to typhus and Hantavirus, rat infestations can prove harmful to human health. One of the most dangerous rat-borne diseases is the bubonic plague. Transfer occurs when infested rats or rat fleas bite human beings. Symptoms include headache, weakness and coughing. Septicemic plague may result in bleeding into the skin and other organs. Rat urine is responsible for the spread of leptospirosis, which can result in liver and kidney damage. Complications include renal and liver failure, as well as cardiovascular problems. This disease results in fever, malaise, appetite loss, muscle aches, headache, nausea and vomiting. Victims may also experience inflammation of the central nervous system and can contract meningitis or encephalitis. Hantavirus is transmitted through rat urine and faeces.