A Comprehensive Guide on Rats, Rat Sizes, and their Characteristics

Rats are one of the most common household pests around the world that have existed for centuries. They can grow to be the size of a small dog or a cat. But other studies claim that they can grow up to six feet long!

Besides property and food damage, rats can be a hazard to you and your family members. Therefore, rat size is vital since it informs you of the damage it will do to your home.

And this diversity in rat sizes allows one to decide the best way of getting rid of them. This blog post highlights the characteristics of rats, their sizes, weight, and habits.

Common Characteristics and Traits of Rats

Rats are highly intelligent creatures. They have an excellent memory and can retain information for years; they also learn quickly from past mistakes.

Rats enjoy being around other rats, but they usually develop relationships with only one or two of them, usually their partner or offspring.

Although most rat breeds are small and rarely grow to be more than a foot long, many different types of rats vary widely in size (including tail). Rats have smell glands, just like humans, cats, and dogs, which mark their territory.

This is accomplished by releasing particular chemicals into the air or on items in the area, such as walls, that other rats can sniff.

Rats can communicate in a variety of ways. They have a language that includes body postures, facial expressions, and scent markers to communicate their moods and feelings. They also use sounds like squeaks to express different emotions, such as fear or hunger.

What Rats Feed On

Small rats can eat household foods such as cereals, bread, and even peanut butter. Pet foods, including dried dog or cat food, are likely to be consumed by baby rats.

On the other hand, big rats prefer fresh meats of any type, which they can’t get in your house, so they’re unlikely to go for these large animals unless there’s no other option.

Smaller rats prefer to eat vegetables and fruits, but they will chop them into small sizes to eat.

Keep any food away from any rat that might gain entry to your home, as it is a good source of food for them.

Check for access sites on doors, window seals, and anywhere else where there are cracks. To ensure they can’t get in, seal them up with cement or replace the old ones.

Rats may enter your home through any little gaps less than an inch wide, which is why once you see one rat, it only takes a few to let the entire colony in.

The Lifespan of Rats

Most rats have an average lifespan of two to three years. However, some rats have been reported to live for up to four or five years in captivity.

Smaller rats have shorter lifespans than big rats because their rapid metabolisms burn more energy, causing the body to wear out sooner.

It is also believed that smaller rats can handle colder climates better than bigger rats.

How Rats Nest

Rats are very intelligent creatures, and they know what to look for in a nest.

Nest-building Materials

Smaller species of rats, such as the black rat, will use smaller objects such as leaves, moss, and grasses when building their nests.

Bigger species like the brown rat need bigger items, e.g., wood pieces or stones — this is because they prefer to build their nests underground, and larger objects are needed to protect them from the harsh weather conditions and predators.

Warmth

Weather changes considerably contribute to the rats’ nesting habits. Before they start breeding, they look for a comfortable and cozy place where they and their little ones can be warm.

They prefer indoors during the fall and winter months to stay dry during the cold and rainy seasons.

Access to Food

During the chilly and rainy seasons, rats usually have scarce food. Accessibility to food is crucial for these rodents hence informing their nesting habits.

Because of their poor eyesight, they prefer if food is closer to their nests than when it’s miles away. They only travel to look for food when it’s necessary (their pickings are scarce).

Risks Associated with Rats Infestations

Rats infestation poses a few risks to your and your family’s well-being. These risks make it vital to contact a professional exterminator once you see them in your home. Below are a few risks posed by rat infestations:

Health Risks

During the dark ages in Europe, most people believed rats caused the Black Plague. Fleas and parasites on the rats caused the disease to occur in Europe.

Since rats are predisposed to fleas and parasites, it’s easier for them to transmit the underlying diseases to you and your family. Other diseases that are linked to rats are the Hantaviruses and Leptospirosis.

Fire Hazards

Rats have indeed been linked to several fire outbreaks before. Due to their flexibility, they can access walls and other hidden areas in your home. Because of their chewing habits, they become a threat once they can access the electrical wires.

The insulation materials around the electrical cables bring joy to these small rodents. They’re usually thrilled with their idea of chewing on these cables.

And once they manage to leave the electrical wires open, it poses a great danger to your home.

The outcome may be minor, like electrical equipment (sockets), stopping functioning, or a more dangerous outcome.

Once the exposed cables contact dry wood or wall and cause shock, it can easily ignite these pieces and cause a massive fire.

Most fire outbreaks or explosives have been triggered with shorts in electrical wires chewed on by rats.

Wrapping Up

It’s critical to deal with a rat or mouse infestation as soon as possible. They are known to bring diseases, and can also harm the property where you live.

Besides, their nesting habits make it tough to deal with them. For this reason, it’s better if you know what indications to look for in your house so that extermination can begin before a problem arises.

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