Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents
They are the most diversified mammalian order and live in a variety of terrestrial habitats, including human-made environments.
Rat reproduction
Rats reach sexual maturity at about 4 to 5 weeks of age. From this age onward, females and males should live separately. The average gestation time is 21 to 23 days for rats, and pregnancy is sometimes detectable at about 2 weeks by feeling the abdomen or noticing weight gain or mammary (breast) development. Pregnant females will make a nest.
The usual litter size is 6 to 12 pups. When baby rats are born, they are deaf and blind. The cage are kept in a quiet place and the litter should not be disturbed for at least 7 days after birth, especially if this is the female’s first litter. Weaning occurs about 21 days after birth. Female rats can quickly become pregnant again after giving birth; however, it is not healthy for a female rat to be both pregnant and nursing a litter. It is recommended that the female be given a rest period of at least 2 months between pregnancies and litter rearing, to restore her body to full strength.
Breeding and reproduction in rats can decrease due to various factors such as age, malnutrition, abnormal light cycles, cold environment, cysts on the ovaries, tumors, and inadequate nesting material. Pregnant females may abort, abandon, or eat their babies due to inadequate food or lack of water.
Danger of Rat and Mice
Rat and Mice are common household Pest, they can make themselves a home in houses, garages and garden, they harbor diseases, causes destruction to your house, contaminate your food; post a risk to human health. They also cause unpleasant odors and damages to property and possessions.
Mice, rats and the parasites that come with them can carry a number of diseases, some of which are potentially deadly to humans, like Hantavirus, Lassa fever, Listeria, Rat-Bite Fever and Salmonellosis. Mice and rats can also play a large role in contributing to dangerous allergies. Mice and rats can also take a toll on your home. They’re known to eat just about anything – including parts of your house. Their teeth can gnaw through insulation, wallboards, card board, even wood. Some are especially fond of electrical wiring and that can lead to real danger.
What problems can mice and rats cause?
Damage to furnishings and internal structures, consume and damage your food, causing diseases, chewing wiring is a particular problem as it can lead to fires and be expensive to repair.
What attracts rats and mice to your house?
Food and shelter are two main things that can attract mice and rats to your house. A messy kitchen is a great way to get rats in your house. If you don’t tidy up properly and there’s food waste on the floor or surfaces, rodents are going to love it. Rats and mice also need shelter. A heated home with lots of places to hide and an untidy home is perfect for them.
These are some of the ways to get rid of Rat and Mice
1) Practice good sanitation
2) Prevention is the best long-term way to get rid of rodents in your house: repair broken air
bricks and holes in outside walls,tidy up cupboards and remove nesting material.
3) Regularly clean up sheds, storage areas and dispose of unwanted items
4) Ensure waste bins are well kept and regularly emptied
5) Block all access point to cupboards containing food and food preparation utensils
6) Keep your home and property clean
7) Do not compost any animal products (fish, meat, chicken etc )
8) For an immediate evacuation of rats and mice; contact EOA pest control today we will be glad to help you eliminate this unwanted Pest from your home or offices
