November 15, 2021 - Rodents
If there’s one pest uniquely suited to invading Denver, Colorado homes and making these dwellings their own, it’s the Norway rat. These rats, commonly known as brown rats, have learned over hundreds of years to live alongside humans, and they are incredibly adaptable. They rely on the shelter that human homes provide as well as the easy access to food and water.
Norway rats spread around the world throughout the ages because they are such good swimmers and can survive on ships. Now, they are found everywhere in the world, including inside Denver properties.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to identify, prevent, and remove brown rats from your property.
What Do Norway Rats Look Like?
Norway rats are sometimes mistaken for other rodent species, especially mice. While Norway rats are much bigger than common house mice, baby rats can be similar in size. Both of these species have brownish-grey fur, but you can use a couple of distinctions to tell the rats apart.
Norway rats have much scalier and shorter tails than mice, for one thing. Also, rats have blunter face shapes while mice have more triangular-shaped faces. Finally, mice have larger eyes and ears in proportion to their bodies.
What Problems Do Norway Rats Cause?
The problems with Norway rats are many, but they can be boiled down to two categories: property damage and health risks.
First, brown rats will constantly gnaw through all kinds of materials as this is how they keep their teeth from growing too large. They can bite through things like drywall, electrical wires, plumbing, furniture, and more. This means they can destroy many items throughout your property, and they can also chew their way inside. Lastly, rats can create extensive messes as they leave their droppings and urine around.
Second, Norway rats are dangerous to human health. They spread many diseases, including salmonellosis, tularemia, and hantavirus. And, all the feces and urine they leave behind can build up and cause respiratory issues such as asthma attacks.
And, to top it off, rats also commonly carry parasites like ticks and fleas, and these parasites can transmit other illnesses, including the Bubonic plague.
Five Effective Norway Rat Prevention Steps
Brown rats present some difficulties when it comes to prevention measures that need to be kept in mind. For one thing, they can fit through gaps the size of a quarter, and they can also chew through many materials to make holes to slip through. However, there are still some effective preventive measures you can take despite these challenges.
Here are five of the best Norway rat prevention steps:
- Cover vents with wire mesh and seal up any cracks in the walls and foundation using steel wool and other products rats can’t chew through.
- Make your property less appealing to rats by cleaning kitchens often and wiping up food and drink spills as soon as possible.
- Always cover all garbage cans with lids and pick up trash from around your yard.
- Norway rats are attracted to moisture-rich places, so use dehumidifiers and fix any leaky plumbing.
- If you have pets around, keep their food stored inside in sealed containers.
By reducing possible entry points and minimizing attracting factors you will go a long way towards reducing the risk of Norway rats moving into your Denver home.
The Best Way To Remove Brown Rats
When Norway rats have already made their way to your Denver property, the easiest way to remove them is with assistance from Absolute Pest Control. We are a locally owned company with over 30 years of experience, and we will remove these dangerous rodents swiftly and effectively.
Find out more about our rodent control plans and even get a free inspection by giving us a call.