Where there's one, there's probably more. At least when it comes to rats. And that has been the case for millions of years. They fight for food, they fight to play, and they fight to survive. Let's find out more about rats from past to present.
Rodent Identity Crisis
Rat, fahr fara (Arabic), chuot (Vietnamese), tikus (Indonesian), jwee (Korean). The common rat has many names. But do you know where they actually originated? Don't be misled by the nickname, "Norway rat." It's believed that the first rats lived in Asia, descending from ancestors that went by the name of "anagalids," which also spurned Lagomorpha (also known as rabbits). Rats came to be about 34 million years ago during the Eocene period. The Murid family of rats transitioned into the Rattus genus and spread to Mediterranean countries, the Middle East, and Australia. Eventually, rats started to creep into Europe (displacing black rats), and then into our turf, the U.S.
Rats of Many Names, and Also Many Homes
The house rat, the sewer rat, and the wharf rat... do you know why the common brown rat is known by all three names? Those are the places rats started to find homes. In Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries, people actually ate rats during famines. Rats were also used for entertainment – rat fights, rat pits, and rat courses often served as diversions. It was also in the 1800's that the use of lab rats began for medical testing. Some people started to keep rats for pets as well.
In the olden days, rats ate almost anything...today, they're still inclined to sink their teeth into unusual objects like computer cords, pipes, bed posts, floors, dog food, crown molding, soap, and candy. But generally, they munch on meat, fish, and livestock grain (anything softer than their own teeth); rats can fill themselves up with almost 1/3 of their body weight. They're not messin' around when it comes to snack time! Not only do rats have a keen sense of taste, they are also very sensitive listeners, and have a strong sense of smell. (These strong senses easily direct them to their meals.)
Get Rid of Rats
What can you do nowadays to get rodents out of your home? Get educated, be proactive, and be responsible.
- Know that rats can get inside through open doors, and any cracks or gaps in your home. Western pays close attention to these vulnerabilities.
- Take the time to carefully clean your kitchen, basement and/or attic, gutters, and any standing water in your yard, particularly in the fall and winter. (As fallout from habitat displacement after Hurricane Irene and the subsequent storms and flooding that followed, you are likely to see more rats than usual this time of year.)
- Store candy, cereal, dry goods, and dog food in airtight containers.
- Finally, take note of the following: gnaw marks, droppings, footprints, dark or greasy markings, burrows, tiny nibbles in your food, and frequent clicking noises (caused by the rats grinding their teeth). If you detect any of these manifestations, it's definitely time to call Western.
Rat Control and Rodent Prevention
Why Western? Traps just aren't enough. Rats gnawing on electrical cords, for example, can cause dangerous fires or power outages. Plus, rodents in general can have a negative effect on your family's health. What you really need is a permanent solution to get rid of rats and other rodents this season and beyond. Call Western, the rat-control experts, for more information.
- Request a free home inspection online or call 1-866-712-6573
- See how effective rodent control works
- Learn more about the house mouse and Norway rat