Amazing things you MUST know about Rats!
Rats are extremely social and affectionate animals. They enjoy the company of other rats and domestic rats love being with humans too. But when hungry, rats can, and do, kill mice, a behaviour known as muricide. Muricide is a form of predatory behaviour: rats hunt, kill and eat mice. A study done in 1956 showed that 71% of wild rats and 12% of domestic rats will kill mice. Rats will eat anything, including mice, to survive.
This makes them ultimate survivors.
Few Quick Facts
Type: Mammal (Rodent)Diet: OmnivoreLifespan: 2–3 yearsSize: Average body is 25cm long with tail being a further 20cmWeight: 350–450 g for females and 450–650 for malesHabitat: Extremely adaptable and can thrive in most habitats providing there is adequate food/water supply.Range: Originated in Asia, but has spread throughout the world.Scientific name: Rattus species
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Few interesting facts about the common rats you would be amazed to know are:
- Rats have ever growing teeth and thus they have to gnaw continuously to remove the extra teeth growth.
- This habit of gnawing makes them notorious cutters and destructors of almost everything sometimes even metal.
- Rats take care of injured and sick rats in their group.
- Without companionship rats tend to become lonely and depressed.
- Rats have excellent memories. Once they learn a navigation route, they won’t forget it.
- When happy, rats have been observed to chatter or grind their teeth. This is often accompanied by vibrating eyes.
- Rats make happy “laughter” sounds when they play.
- Rats succumb to peer-pressure, just like humans. Brown rats are prone to disregard personal experiences in order to copy the behaviour of their peers.
- The urge to conform is so strong that they will even choose to eat unpalatable food if they are in the company of other rats who are eating it.
- Although very curious animals, rats are also shy, and prefer to run away than confront a potential threat.
- Rats are extremely dirty animals, shedding thousands of hairs every day and pissing all over.
- They are much more likely than cats or dogs to catch and transmit parasites and viruses.
- A rat can go longer than a camel without having a drink of water.
- Rats’ tails help them to balance, communicate and regulate their body temperature.
- The rat is the first of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. People born in this year are thought to possess characteristics which are associated with rats, namely: creativity, intelligence, honesty, ambition and generosity.
- Rats are recognised as the vehicle of Lord Ganesh in Indian tradition. They are worshipped at the Karni Devi Temple, where priests and pilgrims will feed them grain and milk.
- A female rat can mate as many as 500 times with various males during a six-hour period of receptivity — a state she experiences about 15 times per year. Thus a pair of brown rats can produce as many as 2,000 descendants in a year if left to breed (A rat matures sexually at age three to four months.)
- The gestation period for rats is 19–22 days, for mice it is 17–21 days. Rats and mice average 8–12 babies in a litter, but can have as few as 1 or as many as 20. Rats are weaned at 6 weeks, mice at 5 weeks.
- Firstly,rats are excellent swimmers. They can tread water for three days straight and can hold their breath underwater for three minutes, according to this National Geographic video.
- Female rats go into estrus (heat) every four to five days. Unlike many other mammals red blood cells are not prominent, so there is no vaginal bleeding. When in heat the female rat will usually display by arching her back when touched, vibrating her ears, and running in short fast bursts.
- The gestation period is about 19–21 days, and they give birth to a litter of 3–14 young (average six to eight). One female can have 5 to 10 litters per year, so the mouse population can increase very quickly.
- Babies can be weaned at 4 weeks, but you can leave the girls with their mom as long as you want. Remove boys before 5 weeks or they may breed with their mother or sisters.
- Breeding occurs throughout the year.
These facts helped the Rats survive and stay most adaptable creatures on earth, which makes controlling and eliminating a rats infestation all the more difficult.
To get rid of rats in your surroundings, experts suggest keeping food sealed and stored properly, particularly in the kitchen, which should be cleaned daily to prevent crumbs and trash from building up.
Garbage should be disposed of regularly and stored in sealed containers. Homeowners should seek out and seal all cracks and holes in homes, including entry points for utilities and pipes, as these can serve as entranceways for the pest.
In addition, basements and crawl spaces should be kept well ventilated and dry.
Rat control and management are important for health and safety reasons. If you suspect a rat infestation, use our All India Toll Free Number 1800 200 7378 to talk to a licensed pest control professional in your area.
For this and more such information please visit www.pestact.com more often and stay connected with our blogs. We are the best pest control experts. Your comments, suggestions, recommendations and stories or problems related to pests are most welcome. Do write to us at contact@pestact.com or call our All India Toll Free number (to get rid of pests from your surroundings and to fight them better) at 1800 200 7378.
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