Few interesting facts about rats:

• A female rat can mate as many as 500 times with various males during a six-hour period of receptivity - a state she experiences about 15 times per year. Thus a pair of brown rats can produce as many as 2,000 descendants in a year if left to breed unchecked.

• Rats' front teeth grow 4½ to 5½ inches each year. Rats wear them down by continuously gnawing on everything around them, including cement, brick, wood, lead pipes, and other small animals.

• Rats are known to transmit several potentially fatal diseases to humans, including viral hemorrhagic fever, plague, Weil's disease, and Q fever.

Roof Rats & Norway Rats:

The Roof Rat is dark brown or black in color, and measures 13-18 inches long including their long tail.They are small and weigh between 5-9 ounces. Their ears are long and almost hairless.Their droppings are cylindrical and long.Norway Rats are sturdy rodents that weigh in at around 11 ounces.The adult Norway Rats measure 13-18 inches in length, with a 6- to nine-inch tail.Their fur is coarse and brownish with black hair at the top.Their belly fur is usually gray or yellowish-white and they have a naked, scaly, tail.

Rats can eat almost any food that is not made by humans.When eating dry food, rats will require 1 fluid ounce of water per day.Rats are able to sense the sensations of touch, hearing, smell, taste, and smell.Rodents are social animals that use all of their senses to communicate.They can climb to get food and shelter, and they will enter buildings through any opening that is larger than 1/2 inch or less than a quarter.Six to twelve litters are produced after mating and they give birth to their young within 21 to 23 days.At three months old, young rats can mate.Spring and fall are the most common times for breeding.A female can have four to six litters a year, while an individual lives for 12 to 18 months.

How to Prevent Rodent Infestations

There are many things you can do to control rodents.

• Tree branches should be trimmed 5 feet from buildings. Bulbs and ground covers should be trimmed 12 inches back from the foundation.

• All screens and vents must be properly covered.

• Steel wool or expansion foam can be used to seal as many cracks, crevices and access areas as possible.

• Rats can live in residential areas due to the presence of trash and other refuse.

• Although it won't completely eradicate rats in all circumstances, good sanitation can make the environment more hospitable so they can live and thrive.

• This includes proper storage and disposal of food and garbage.

• Keep your home and yard clear of junk and clutter.

• Rodents can easily find food by feeding other wildlife like squirrels or birds.

• When your pet finishes eating, always pick up the pet food

• Recycled bottles and cans should be rinsed and stored in sealed containers.

Ecorattic™ offers a Rodent Proofing service to make sure your Attic won't become their next nesting spot.

Contact Ecorattic™ today, to get rid off Rats for good.