Rat Problems – Causing Anxiety For Good Reason

By Author: nicksmith
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Rat problems in the New Jersey and tri-state area are especially prevalent in the colder months of the year, such as late fall, winter, and early spring. Rats seek warmth inside dwellings where, in most cases, humans live. Few pests are as upsetting and repulsive to humans as rats. Just seeing a rat in one’s living space can cause fear and anxiety. These reactions are actually well-founded, because rats tend to carry and transmit diseases such as Rat-Bite Fever, Leptospirosis, Bubonic Plague, Salmonella, Tapeworms, and Typhus. In their insatiable quest for food, rats contaminate everything in their wake, leaving a trail of urine and feces. Their urine then attracts other rats to the area or dwelling, leading to a possible infestation. Rats enter structures through small holes and crevices. Female rats are fertile all year long, and can produce hundreds of babies in their lifetimes. It is easy to see how quickly one or two rats can quickly cause a full-scale rat infestation in a house, apartment complex, or business.

The two most prevalent rats in New Jersey are the Norway Rat and the Roof Rat. The Norway Rat ...
... is most frequently found in urban areas. They are often called “water rats” and/or “sewer rats”. They are grey or brown with small eyes and ears, which distinguish them from roof rats. These rats live in large colonies and have no qualms about living close to humans. They inhabit the lower portions of buildings, areas containing large amounts of garbage, ponds, and sewers. Norway rats are a threat to public health because they carry fleas and parasites and can transmit dangerous diseases, including the potentially fatal Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. The Roof Rat is a sub-tropical species, originally transferred to New Jersey ports via cargo ships. They are very dark brown (almost black), with light under-bellies, large eyes and ears, and weigh approximately 10-12 ounces. They are expert climbers and live in the upper branches of trees and the tops of high buildings. Roof Rats consume huge amounts of food and can root out stored food fairly easily. They carry fleas and mites and can spread bubonic plague and typhus. Regardless of the type of rat infestation, rat problems are serious and should be addressed quickly.

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