Rat Facts
Washington is home to both native and non-native rats, in this facts section we are referring to non-native rats.
Native to the Orient, Asia Minor, and Siberia, rats were introduced to North America on the ships of the early settlers. These rats continue to enter new areas on board ships, trains, and trucks and other means of transportation around the world. In Washington, they are now found everywhere that humans have established permanent residence or industry.
Non- Native Washington State rats include the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus), also known as the brown rat, sewer rat, or wharf rat, and the black rat (Rattus rattus), also known as the roof rat.
Norway rats average 16 inches in length, which includes the animal's long, tapering, tail that is shorter than the length of the rat's head and body combined. Norway rats are often grayish-brown in color from top to bottom; white, black, or other colored Norway rats are occasionally found. The rats sold as pets are specially strains of Norway rats.
Roof rats or “Black rats” are similar in length to Norway rats, but are more slender and darker in color. The tail is longer than the length of the head and body combined and their noses are more pointed than that of a Norway rat. As their name suggests, roof rats are great climbers and are regularly found on roofs in attics and in the upper levels of structures. Roof rats prefer a saltwater influenced warmer climate like we have here in the Puget Sound, and are more likely to board ships than Norway rats, Roof rats are often seen in port areas and coastal towns around Washington State
Facts about Norway and Roof Rats
Rat Food preferences and eating habits
Native to the Orient, Asia Minor, and Siberia, rats were introduced to North America on the ships of the early settlers. These rats continue to enter new areas on board ships, trains, and trucks and other means of transportation around the world. In Washington, they are now found everywhere that humans have established permanent residence or industry.
Non- Native Washington State rats include the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus), also known as the brown rat, sewer rat, or wharf rat, and the black rat (Rattus rattus), also known as the roof rat.
Norway rats average 16 inches in length, which includes the animal's long, tapering, tail that is shorter than the length of the rat's head and body combined. Norway rats are often grayish-brown in color from top to bottom; white, black, or other colored Norway rats are occasionally found. The rats sold as pets are specially strains of Norway rats.
Roof rats or “Black rats” are similar in length to Norway rats, but are more slender and darker in color. The tail is longer than the length of the head and body combined and their noses are more pointed than that of a Norway rat. As their name suggests, roof rats are great climbers and are regularly found on roofs in attics and in the upper levels of structures. Roof rats prefer a saltwater influenced warmer climate like we have here in the Puget Sound, and are more likely to board ships than Norway rats, Roof rats are often seen in port areas and coastal towns around Washington State
Facts about Norway and Roof Rats
Rat Food preferences and eating habits
- Roof and Norway rats will eat just about anything humans or other animals will eat, plus many less tasty items including animal feces, garbage, and will also cannibalize other rats.
- Rats living away from humans are known to eat seeds, nuts, and bugs, as well as baby birds and bird eggs.
- When given a choice, rats will feed themselves a nutritionally balanced diet, eating fresh items over stale or contaminated food.
- Rats are nocturnal and begin foraging shortly after dark and most of their food collecting occurs before midnight. They often store or hoard food in food cashes.
- Rats cannot live long without water if their diet doesn't contain adequate amounts of liquids. .
Rat Territory and Structure
- Roof rats and Norway rats will travel anywhere from 50 to 300 feet from their nests to look for food and water and inspect their territory. However, they can travel much farther if needed.
- Rats generally live together in a group dominated by a large male that guards a group of females and aggressively prevents other males from mating.
- Rats seen during the day are generally socially low ranked individuals who have been denied access to food by dominant rats during the night forcing them to forage in the day or have been scared out of hiding by a threat. Sometimes rats can also be found stumbling about do to toxicity from poisons or pesticides by pest control companies.
Rat Nesting Sites
- Roof rats build nests in attics, trees, and overgrown bushes or even vines. Roof rats do not normally dig burrows for nesting sites like Norway rats will if off-the-ground sites exist.
- Norway rats prefer to nest at or under ground level, and in the lower floors of buildings and crawlspaces.
- Rats can have several nesting sites. They may spend a week in their main nesting site, and then move for a day or two into an alternate nest sites.
- Due to their daily need for water, rats prefer to nest where water is easily available. Higher concentrations of rats typically coincide with a constant water source nearby
Rat Reproduction
- Both Norway rats and roof rats breed year-round in Washington, but reproduction is more concentrated in the warmer months of spring summer and fall
- A litter of 5 to 10 young are born after a gestation period of around three weeks.
- Baby rats are weaned at about 20 days of age and can breed at three to four months old.
- Younger rats will mate either in the same location in which they were born or will migrate to a new, open territory.
Rat Mortality and Lifespan
- Washington’s rats are often killed by vehicles, traps, poison, or other rats. Some domestic animals capture rats.
- Owls, hawks, foxes, coyotes, raccoons and opossums prey upon rats; snakes will eat immature rats as well
- The average life span of a rat in the wild is less than one year, and females typically live longer than males
Bat Removal.
When it comes to finding the smallest most discreet bat entry points our bat removal experts are the best in western Washington. Bats can enter thru holes the size of a pea making identifying entry points difficult for homeowners. our bat removal specialists are licensed to get rid of bats and remove bats humanely from your home and repair any damages caused by the bats during their stay in your attic and outbuildings. Exclusion work is the key to success in achieving a bat free home. Like with most animal invasions our bat technicians provide lasting control measures to insure the bats cannot re-enter the home once they have been evicted. With our extensive multipoint bat inspection you can rest assured all points of entry have been found and a solution will be provided to seal the house up from those pesky yet necessary bats. Bats are often found near bodies of water thru out Washington State. Bats usually enter our structures thru gaps and cracks in the exterior of the home or building and will take up residence in the space causing a buildup of bat guano creating a need to get rid of bats. Our bat removal and control experts are trained to safely remove any existing piles of guano and sanitize the space. Whether only a spot cleaning is needed or full insulation removal and replacement, our licensed bat control experts will provide for you a variety of affordable solutions. Removing bats from a structure is typically done in three easy steps. First we will inspect and identify they entry exit points then we will seal up all but a few potential gaps and cracks leaving the main entry areas open and install one way bat doors over the remaining entry exit points. Then we will schedule a follow up visit to verify the bats are gone, remove the bat doors, and seal the holes behind them. And last but not least our bat control technicians will clean, disinfect, and repair the home where guano and damage is present. We provide bat control solutions and wildlife removal for Tacoma, Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Dupont, Lakewood, Puyallup, Bonney Lake, Lake Tapps, Sumner, Orting, Graham, Seattle, Federal Way, Spanaway, Gig Harbor, Yelm, Rainier, Bucoda, Rochester and many more locations in the north and south Puget Sound as well as Grays Harbor and Lewis Counties. Call today to get rid of bats fast.
When it comes to finding the smallest most discreet bat entry points our bat removal experts are the best in western Washington. Bats can enter thru holes the size of a pea making identifying entry points difficult for homeowners. our bat removal specialists are licensed to get rid of bats and remove bats humanely from your home and repair any damages caused by the bats during their stay in your attic and outbuildings. Exclusion work is the key to success in achieving a bat free home. Like with most animal invasions our bat technicians provide lasting control measures to insure the bats cannot re-enter the home once they have been evicted. With our extensive multipoint bat inspection you can rest assured all points of entry have been found and a solution will be provided to seal the house up from those pesky yet necessary bats. Bats are often found near bodies of water thru out Washington State. Bats usually enter our structures thru gaps and cracks in the exterior of the home or building and will take up residence in the space causing a buildup of bat guano creating a need to get rid of bats. Our bat removal and control experts are trained to safely remove any existing piles of guano and sanitize the space. Whether only a spot cleaning is needed or full insulation removal and replacement, our licensed bat control experts will provide for you a variety of affordable solutions. Removing bats from a structure is typically done in three easy steps. First we will inspect and identify they entry exit points then we will seal up all but a few potential gaps and cracks leaving the main entry areas open and install one way bat doors over the remaining entry exit points. Then we will schedule a follow up visit to verify the bats are gone, remove the bat doors, and seal the holes behind them. And last but not least our bat control technicians will clean, disinfect, and repair the home where guano and damage is present. We provide bat control solutions and wildlife removal for Tacoma, Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Dupont, Lakewood, Puyallup, Bonney Lake, Lake Tapps, Sumner, Orting, Graham, Seattle, Federal Way, Spanaway, Gig Harbor, Yelm, Rainier, Bucoda, Rochester and many more locations in the north and south Puget Sound as well as Grays Harbor and Lewis Counties. Call today to get rid of bats fast.
This information was provided by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Russell Link, And Michael Holmquist
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