RATS!!!
The
most common rat in our area, and what you might see in your backyard, is the
Norway rat. They most likely have built
an elaborate home under your back deck or patio. This article is intended to educate the
homeowner about the Norway rat and to make suggestions as to how to control the
rat population.
Do Rats Spread the Plague?
No. However, rats can carry fleas which might
carry the plague…just like any other rodent.
These fleas may jump to humans. However, as reported by the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC), since the last outbreak in 1925, only 10-15 cases are
reported each year, mainly in rural areas.
Modern antibiotics are effective against the plague.
Do Rats Have Rabies?
While
*any* mammal can acquire the rabies disease, rats are not considered a rabies
threat. According to the CDC, there
has never been a case of human rabies caused by a rat (or other small rodent)
in the
What about Parasites or
other Diseases?
As
with any mammal, rats can have parasites such as fleas, ticks, mites and
lice. Rats
can spread Salmonella food
poisoning, Weils disease (leptospirosis), trichinosis, and other diseases
directly through contamination of food and water with their urine and feces
(Source: National Park Service, US Dept of the Interior). Unless you are directly handling a wild rat, or
you have an infestation *inside* your house, the chances of contracting these
parasites or diseases is low.
What Is Rat Bite Fever?
This
is an infectious disease that is caught through contact with the urine or oral
and/or eye secretions of the rat.
According to the CDC, it is rare in the
Do Rats Attack
Pets…Children…?
Rats
are predatory animals and may attack a smaller animal such as a mouse or small
bird, but rats attacking mammals that are larger than them is not a usual
occurrence. However, rats WILL bite. If they believe they are cornered or you
startle them, it is possible for them to bite in defense. Children have a high prevalence of being
bitten. Usually, when you walk outside,
the rat will run into its burrow faster than you can blink. To reduce your chances of being bitten, when
moving items around in a shed or other storage area, be careful when reaching
into dark areas. It’s a good idea to
make loud noises when entering the area to scare the rat away. Be cautious of deep containers which a rat
may have fallen into and couldn’t get out of.
You can tip it over and let the rat run away (it might scream when you
approach the container…believe me, they are more afraid of you than you are of
them). All bites should be disinfected
immediately and if you have any concerns about rat bite fever, you should seek
medical treatment.
I Have Rats Under My
Porch… What Do I Do??
Do
NOT panic. Rats are very prevalent in
our area. You might even have rats
living in your yard and never be aware of it.
The
best way to control the rat population is to make the area unattractive to
rats. Rats want three things: food, water and shelter. If they have these, they are happy campers
and will hunker down. Rat-Proofing your
house can also help. The number one
thing to do is to remove any food source.
Removing
the Food Source:
v
Do
you like feeding the birds? Well,
chances are you are also feeding the rats.
Bird feeders which allow seed to fall below to the ground are a buffet
for rats. If you want to continue to
feed the birds, but not the rats, look around for spill-proof bird-feeders or
get a seed catcher. Suet cakes also
seemed to decrease the amount of rats this author saw in her own backyard.
v
It
is preferable to not feed your pets outside, but if you do, make sure you
remove the dishes overnight.
v
Completely
wash out any recyclables that are kept outside.
v
Pick
up any fruit that has fallen from your trees.
v
Store
your garbage in rat-proof containers (metal or heavy plastic trash cans with
lids). Tightly close and lock the
lids. If you notice any holes in your
trash cans, replace them immediately.
Removing
the water source:
v
(Note: this will also help reduce the West Nile
Virus threat.) Make sure that any
containers which gather water are emptied regularly.
v
Unfortunately,
there is little else you can do. You do
not want to remove a pet’s water bowl or a bird bath, but it is more important
to remove the food source.
Removing
shelter:
v
The
most important thing you can do here is make sure your yard is not
overgrown.
v
You
shouldn’t put any ground cover (like ivy) next to your house.
v
Keep
your yard trimmed and don’t leave wood or construction debris piles next to
walls or fences.
Rat-Proofing
your home (Source: National Park
Service):
v
Block openings around water and sewer
pipes, utility lines, and air vents.
v
Install metal kick plates or sweeps on
doors and metal jambs on windows and doors.
v
Screen air vents.
v
Seal any cracks or holes in foundations
(above-and below-grade) and exterior walls.
v
Repair damaged roof soffits and seal
any openings to the roof.
v
Repair any gnaw holes after stuffing them
with steel or copper wool.
v
Equip floor drains with sturdy metal
grates.
Following the advice above is the best
way of reducing the rat population in your area. Please remember, however, that rats will
travel approximately 100 feet from their nests for their food. Therefore, even by following these
suggestions, if your neighbors don’t, you may still have a small problem. If you don’t see the rats in the day time,
your problem is very minor and you will probably never be bothered by the rats
(unless you have a vegetable garden…rats love tomatoes!).
A word about poison and other lethal methods of controlling rats:
While poison is a viable method of
controlling the rats in your area, it is not a permanent solution. Unless the environment is uninviting to the
rats, more will just take the place of the ones killed. There are two main types of poisons used: ones that affect anti-coagulation (the
ability for blood to clot) and those that affect respiration. Neither of these methods is painless. An important issue involving poison is that
non-target animals (pets, squirrels) and possibly children could get into the
poison. Or there is a possibility that a
dog or cat could kill and consume a rat that has been poisoned and then become
poisoned itself.
In the case of snap-traps and glue
boards, the issue remains that non-target animals can be caught as well. Be aware that with glue boards, the animal
may struggle for some time. (Source:
National Park Service).
For these reasons, the lethal methods
should be debated before use and, at the very least, used in conjunction with
the above suggestions.
