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Myths, Part 2

MYTH: RATS AND MICE AVOID WATER.

FACT: The Norway rat is an excellent swimmer and can live along streams and rivers. It can catch crayfish, frogs and other aquatic animals to supplement their food. Rats also can survive being carried long distances in floods or on river currents. They will cross ditches and swim drains and stretches of sewer flow to get where they are going. Even mice will swim, and can withstand immersion in water for many hours.

MYTH: RATS AND MICE ONLY BREED AND MOVE INDOORS IN THE FALL.

FACT: Rats and mice can breed year-round when there are adequate food, shelter and warm-temperature opportunities. Rats and mice cannot hibernate, and will spend more time inside burrows or structures to stay warm during cold weather, but still can explore their environments, looking for food and shelter. Invasions of buildings might be more noticed in the fall, particularly in northern areas after frost, when ground cover is reduced and crop fields have been cut.

MYTH: RATS TRAVEL IN “PACKS.”

FACT: Rats live in social groups (colonies) where they establish a “pecking order” of dominance. Rats recognize their own colony members and their place in that society, but do not move or behave in any coordinated or cooperative fashion.

Rats move individually along established routes, although one rat might be seen to quickly follow another. Usually, the largest male rat is the top rat, or alpha male, which will defend his choice of territory, food sites and mates, and might chase subordinate males.

Rats have limited movements in areas where they are established, traveling mostly for nearby food and shelter.

MYTH: THERE IS ONE RAT PER PERSON LIVING IN MANY OF OUR CITIES.

FACT: This is a sound bite that sounds good to politicians or those cautioning about rats, but it has no basis in fact. Rat populations change according to their ability to survive in areas and the amount of food and shelter available.

The one-rat-per-person claim first appeared in a British publication from 1909 referring to rats in the English countryside. An educated guess was made that there was an average of one rat per acre. Coincidentally at the time, there were both 40 million acres of cropland and 40 million people in the country, so the one-rat-per-person figure was born.

MYTH: THERE ARE FEWER RATS AROUND TODAY THAN THERE USED TO BE.

FACT: There are probably as many rats in most cities and towns as there have been for decades. It is true that rat and mouse populations took a downturn when automobiles in the city, and tractors on the farm replaced horses. Since the 1950s, hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent in organized campaigns to control rats in many cities and towns.

We know how to limit rat problems, but time, money and energy are required. As cities age, some buildings, streets and sewers fall into disrepair. With current city budget constraints and the lack of a viable customer base for pest management professionals in many inner-city areas, organized and sustained rodent management efforts can be limited. Under the right circumstances (such as a garbage strike), rat populations can reach problem levels in a few months, and every individual needs to take steps to protect his own property.

MYTH: HAVING RATS AND MICE MEANS POOR SANITATION AND RUN-DOWN BUILDINGS.

FACT: Just about anyone can find themselves with a rat or a mouse problem. Rats can move into areas along streams, through sewers, or when displaced by construction. They can explore even well-maintained properties and invade buildings if they find access to the inside.

Besides garbage, rodent populations can be maintained by food sources like pet food, bird seed, fruit trees and gardens. Harborage can be provided by thick landscaping, mulch piles and accessible sheds or garages with clutter. Crawl spaces and under-deck areas can conceal a new population that grows unnoticed until the damage and signs become apparent.

MYTH: RATS AND MICE ARE SHY ANIMALS AND ARE NOT LIKELY TO ACT AGGRESSIVELY OR BITE PEOPLE.

FACT: Rats and mice have survived for thousands of years living with people by being very cautious. Like most animals, however, they can act defensively and can be dangerous when cornered.

Rats can leap or move toward people, and will readily bite when attacked or handled. Their bite can easily penetrate flesh and cause deep puncture wounds that may strike bone or cut nerves, bringing infection and injury. More than 10,000 people are bitten by wild rodents every year in theUnited States.

The post Myths about Rats & Mice Part 2 appeared first on Ozark Pest Control Service Topeka Kansas.