Gray, brown or black,
with small eyes and ears and
tails shorter than their bodies; up to 12
inches.
Habitat
The
Norway rat is the largest and most common structure-dwelling
rat in the world. In rural areas it lives in fields, wooded areas and
farms,
and in urban areas in vacant lots and buildings, where it is a focus of
rodent control. It nests in burrows
underground and may enter buildings in search of food. Due to its large
size,
it needs a hole about the size of a quarter to enter a building. Once
inside,
Norway rats can chew through wiring, causing fires, and removing them
often
requires professional rodent control expertise. They
are known to spread numerous diseases.
Diet
Norway rats will eat practically
anything, although
they prefer meat, fish and cereal.
Rodent
control: Norway rats
Successful rodent
control is a multi-pronged effort. Keep firewood stored well
away from your
home. Remove debris piles. Seal any holes larger than 1/4 inch. Remove
or fix
sources of moisture and harborage, such as indoor trash cans, dripping
faucets
and open food in pantries. Your Rose Pest Solutions technician can
inspect for
early warning signs and implement customized rodent
control.
