Brown rats, also known as common rats, are presumed to have been initially transported into Britain by accident sometime in the 18th century. The most common theory connects rat infestation on the island with the ongoing shipping from central Asia.
From then on, brown rats had been very common and widespread throughout the UK as they are smart, adaptive, and tough to battle.
So – how are you supposed to identify a brown rat, what you need to know about their nature, and how are you expected to keep your home rat-free? Get to know the basics in the following short paragraphs.
Appearance and characteristics of the species
The brown rats have grey-brown fur, big bare ears, a pointed nose, and a rather long and scaly tail. The species’ head and body length vary from 15 cm to 28 cm, while their tail can reach 10.5 cm to 24 cm in length.
Brown rats are superb swimmers, diggers, divers, and climbers. They can enter homes by digging their own holes or climbing through existing cracks in the walls, roofs, or building doors. Once they are settled in, they can give birth to 6 – 11 pups in just three weeks.
Significantly enough, brown rats are also intelligent and easily adaptable – they can adjust strategies, routes, and manoeuvring to keep themselves, their clans, and their offspring safe and well-supplied with food.
Brown rats’ habitat and diet
To make things even worse, brown rats are not only present around farmlands, as the popular opinion suggests. In fact, those rodents can be found in virtually all domestic and industrial settings that can provide food, water, and shelter.
Rat control professionals often report dealing with brown rats in roof spaces, sewer systems, wall cavities, gardens, warehouses, cereal crops, and so on.
What do brown rats eat? Well, they are indeed not picky: a full-grown brown rat is always eager to try packed foods, seeds, cereals, processed meat, fish, insects, bones, fruit, root crops, eggs, or even small mammals.
The hazards of brown rat infestation
Brown rats are not only unpleasant for aesthetic reasons. They can also bring various contaminants that are hazardous for human beings and domestic animals alike. Rat-carried diseases include Weil’s disease, Listeria, Salmonella, Toxoplasma gondii, Hantavirus, and tens of others.
Brown rat prevention and control
Removing the potential nesting spots is an excellent place to start in your rat prevention strategy. Pay special attention to the gaps around your pipes and your under-shed spaces, along with removing overgrown garden areas and cleaning away any compost piles.
If you spot rat droppings or any other signs of rat infestation, you better call a professional as soon as possible.
Professional pest control Enfield is eligible to develop the safest and most efficient solution to preserve your health, property, and comfort from dealing with brown rats and their undesired presence.
