April 4th is National Rat Day. Rats are typically not cute and cuddly pets although they can be kept for this purpose. We are going to talk about the non domestic rat, the rats people want to rid there environments from.
Rats are smart social animals that have great memories. So they remember where there is a food/water source then they tell all their friends.
A group of rats is called a mischief, male rats are called a buck, a female rat is called a doe, and newborn rats are called pups. Rats can have 3-16 pups at a time. Gestation period for rats is 18-23 days.
2 most common problematic rats are the Norway rat, not from Norway, and the roof rat. Rats are originally from Australia and Asia and now are found everywhere around the world.
Roof Rat
Habits
Roof rats can jump, swing, and climb multiple surface types. They tend to nest off the ground, up in trees, high in building structures. They are nocturnal, and most active at right after sunset and before sunrise sunrise.
Food preferences
Roof rats are omnivores, they eat seeds, eggs, grain, and vegetables. They can consume 1/2-1 ounce of food a day.
Geographic areas
Roof rats like warm weather climates. They prefer to be near bodies of water; ocean, lakes, rivers. They are current found along the Pacific coast, Atlantic coast, gulf states, southwest areas, and Hawaii
Other names
black rat, fruit rat, and ship rat
Norway Rat
Habits
Norway rats love to dig, they are constantly burrowing in the soil are excellent swimmers, and climbers. They like to nest in basements and closed in dark spaces. They are nocturnal, and most active at right after sunset and before sunrise sunrise.
Food preferences
Norway rats are omnivore and prefer a diet of fish, flour, grains, vegetables, fruits, and cereal. They will eat almost anything. Norway rats can consume 3/4-1 ounce of food each day.
Geographic areas
Norway rats are excellent at adapting to different environments, they are found throughout the United States.
Other names
Brown rat, gray rat, common rat, house rat, wharf rat, sewer rat, barn rat, and water rat
