What Does a Rat Look Like?
Rats are large rodents with small ears and thick, hairless tails. Their noses are blunt and round and have wiry, rough fur. Rats are cautious and tend to avoid unfamiliar situations. They are more social than mice and are superior at maze learning, showing a higher level of strategy and intelligence.
Norway rats are large, stocky rodents with blunt noses and short ears. They can be 13 to 18 inches long, including their 6 to 8-inch tails. Norway rats have coarse, brownish-gray fur with lighter undersides. These rats can be found in urban and suburban areas of Milwaukee. These burrowing rodents tend to enter homes in the fall and nest in basements and ground floors.
Roof rats are large, slender rodents with pointed noses and large ears. They can be 12 to 16 inches long, including their 8 to 10-inch tails. Roof rats have soft, smooth black fur with lighter undersides. These rats are excellent climbers and can inhabit attics, roofs, or upper levels of buildings.
What are the Signs of a Rat Infestation?
Rats enter homes in search of food, water, and shelter, especially during the fall and winter. These large rodents only need a 1/2-inch-sized opening to squeeze their way into your house. Rats will gnaw at cracks in foundations and roofing to enlarge entryways. Once inside, rats live in attics, basements, crawl spaces, and walls. If you suspect a rat infestation, here are some signs to watch for:
- Rat Droppings – Rats leave behind small, round droppings about 1/2 inch long along walls, in pantries and cupboards, and under sinks.
- Noises – You might hear gnawing, scratching, or rustling sounds in your walls or ceilings at night.
- Nesting Materials – Shredded paper, fabrics, insulation, or plant matter.
- Gnaw Marks – Rats gnaw on wood, wires, cardboard, plastic, and metal to obtain food and maintain teeth.
- Tracks or Rub Marks – When rats travel along baseboards or walls, they often leave dark smudge marks of dirt and oil along their path.
- Odor – You may notice strong, musky odors from rat urine or nest materials.
Professional Rat Control in Milwaukee, WI
Advanced Wildlife and Pest Control offers rat removal and exclusion services in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Rats are intelligent and challenging pests to exterminate. Our certified pest specialists effectively trap, remove, sanitize, and exclude rats from your home and business. Rodent exclusion is a crucial step in proper rat control. Your rodent exterminator will seal openings around your home with heavy-duty closure sealants and materials to prevent future rodent infestations.
How Can I Prevent Rats?
The following prevention tips will help deter rats from your property.
- Store food inside airtight containers or in the refrigerator.
- Regularly wash dishes, vacuum floors, and empty the garbage.
- Clean up crumbs, spills, and food debris.
- Seal up cracks and crevices in the foundation.
- Place weatherstripping around windows and doors.
- Reduce clutter and cardboard in storage areas.
What Problems Do Rats Cause?
Rats are filthy pests that contaminate food, surfaces, and utensils with urine and feces. They can spread harmful diseases such as salmonellosis, leptospirosis, hantavirus, and rat bite fever. Rats can also cause property damage by gnawing on wood and electrical wires. If you own or manage a business like a restaurant, hotel, or retail store, a rat infestation can severely damage your business’s reputation. If not dealt with promptly, a small rat problem can quickly escalate into a major infestation due to their rapid reproduction rate.
Rat FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What do rats eat?
Norway rats and roof rats are nocturnal rodents and remain in hiding during the day. Norway rats are burrowers and build nests in soil, woodpiles, or yard debris. Inside a building, Norway rats are often found in basements and ground-level floors. Roof rats are skilled climbers and often nest in shrubbery, trees, attics, and upper-level floors of buildings.
Where do rats live?
Norway rats are omnivores and feed on various food sources, including fruits, grains, meats, and nuts. Roof rats are food hoarders, stashing food such as seeds and nuts. Roof rats are also omnivorous and will feed on almost anything available to them.
How many babies do rats have at once?
A female rat can have three to ten litters per year, and litters may range from four to twelve young. A rat’s high reproduction rate is one of the reasons why a rat infestation can quickly grow out of control. The young rats mature quickly and can reproduce within two to five months.
How long do rats live?
Rats typically live about one to two years in the wild. They are primary food sources for snakes, hawks, foxes, raccoons, cats, and other animals.