Oh Rats!

    Do we have Rats here in the Portland area? You bet we do! We also tend to have an understandable and justified fear of these disgusting rodents. They are credited for spreading the bacteria that caused the bubonic plague, killing millions of people in the 14th century. Even though the bacteria is less likely to be found today, I don’t think rats have lived down the awful reputation, and rightly so. Even today these furry menaces can spread bacteria and disease to people and pets.

    The 2 most common types of Rats in our area are the black rat (Rattus rattus) and the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus). You can tell the difference between the 2 (if you look long enough before jumping on a chair and screaming) by the color, of course, and size. Black rats weigh around 5 ounces and get to 5 or 6 inches in length. Brown rats are the larger of the two, they can get into the neighborhood of 16 inches in length and can weigh up to 10 ounces. They, like most pests, are attracted to any form of food source. They would be happy to feast on kitchen scraps in your compost piles, the bugs in your compost pile, seed from bird feeders and the food bowl left out for your pet. They will also not be shy when it comes to invading your home and finding what they can in your kitchen. Both species have an easy time adapting and thriving in the presence of people. They will not hesitate to make your home their nesting place to feed and reproduce.

    Rats are very resourceful and extremely intelligent. They often get wise to new elements in their environment such as traps and poison. Rats can also be aggressive, more aggressive than mice. A cornered rat will fight and bite. You can take some preventative measures to make your place look less desirable to rats, clearing wood and yard waste, keeping pet food bowls inside and the extra food in containers are just a few.