Ultimate Guide To Norway Rats

When you deal with a rat infestation in the home, the species responsible is most likely the Norway rat. Norway rats are usually brown in coloration, with black hairs here and there, and a yellow-white to gray underside. Their fur is coarse and shaggy, with short hairs, and they have small eyes and ears, and a blunt muzzle. In terms of size, they can grow to be 17 inches in length, tail included, and they can weigh up to 20 ounces.

Are you dealing with a Norway rat or a roof rat infestation?

It’s easy to get Norway rats and roof rats confused, but if you know what to look for, you can reliably tell the two apart. Norway rats are not as capable climbers as roof rats, and they usually infest the lower areas of the home, including the basement. Roof rats on the other hand are known for their climbing ability, and for the fact that they infest the upper areas of the home, including the upper floors, attics, and roof. Norway rats are also bigger, and they weigh more, with their tail being shorter than their body. Roof rats have a darker fur, and they have tails that are as long as their bodies.

The Norway rat infestation

Norway rats infest a building for the same reasons any other pest will infest it – food, water, and shelter. As such, in order to prevent an infestation, you have to make sure that these things are not accessible, or they are hard to reach. For food, you want to make sure that you use sealed containers, and that you keep your trash cans lidded. You can deny the rodents water by making sure that there are no leaks in the home. And finally, you can deny them shelter, by making sure that there are no access points into the building. Access points can be as small as a nickel, and you will need to seal them up with caulk or steel wool.

Controlling an infestation

To control an infestation, you will need to either use traps and poisons, or call over a pest control specialist. It is possible to tackle small infestations by yourself, but for larger infestations, you will likely need some extra help. If you are in the latter situation, contact us today and we can set up an appointment.