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Rats’ unique intelligence and physical strength make them formidable pests. There are two main kinds of rats that we find here in Vancouver, the Norway rat and the roof rat. While the two varieties have similar appearances: both varieties of rats are brown to black in colour, have pointy faces, somewhat humped backs, and scaly, nearly hairless tails. They can both reach up to 40 cm in length. Both are also nocturnal, meaning that daytime sightings could indicate the presence of a large infestation that needs to be handled by a professional rat control company.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rats

1. How do rats get inside?
   1. Rats are adept at maneuvering in and around obstacles. Rats can fit through a hole the size of a quarter, meaning there are very few properties that are prepared for their ability to get indoors. The Norway rat builds systems of tunnels and burrows at ground level to get inside. Roof rats are climbers and jumpers that tend to get indoors through chimneys, eaves, and more places.
2. How quickly do rats reproduce?
   1. Rodents breed at a very rapid rate. Rats reach sexual maturity at just 3 or 4 months, meaning that a population can soar over the course of a year. This is one of the main reasons why a rat infestation can be so dangerous. Rats typically live up for up to two years.
3. What do rats look like?
   1. The Norway rat is relatively large. The average adult weighs about twelve ounces and measures 16” in total length from its nose to the end of its tail. The length of the tail is shorter than its body and it is typically grayish brown to black or reddish-brown. Adult roof rats are medium-sized rats measuring about 16” in total length from their nose to the tip of their tail. Their tails are longer than their bodies and slimmer than those of Norway rats.
4. How dangerous are rats?
   1. Both varieties of rats can cause serious structural and electrical damage to the buildings that they inhabit. They can also damage roadways and entire fields of crops. They eat building materials, including batt and foam insulation, wood, and wiring, and they are also capable of causing fire hazards with their gnawing habits. While rare, rats have been known to bite in defense. Because they carry diseases, this can be especially dangerous.

Why Do You Need Rat Control?

Rats are mostly nocturnal, so the easiest way to tell if your residence has a rat infestation is by finding their droppings. Oftentimes, homeowners hear scratching or scuffling sounds between their walls when there are rodents present. Chewed-up food, packaging, and building materials are other ways of determining if your home has rats. You might also notice a telltale dirty ‘rub mark’ on the baseboards that they pass by frequently. Be aware that if you see rats in your home during the day, you likely have a large infestation on your hands, making it important to look into rat pest control services sooner than later.

Food products that rats have gotten a hold of should be discarded due to the feces, saliva, and urine that could have contaminated them. Rats are known disease carriers. They can transmit diseases directly through their bites or exposure to their waste, or they can transmit infection via their fleas. Rats carry diseases such as the plague, rat-bite fever, and Hantavirus.

Our Rat Exterminators’ Top Tips: How to Keep Rats Away

The best rat pest control is preventing them in the first place! Our top tips for at-home rat control out are:

1. Use metal weather-stripping and flashing around doors and windows.
2. Use concrete filler to patch foundation cracks.
3. Wrap pipes in steel wool prior to sealing.
4. Cover vents with fine metal mesh screening.
5. Eliminate clutter around your house and property.
6. Keep your trees, bushes, and grass trimmed and neat.
7. Use secure lids on compost and garbage cans.
8. Eliminate sources of excess water (leaky taps, sweating pipes, open drains, and air conditioner drains).
9. Store dry goods and pet food in plastic, glass, or metal containers.
10. Keep your kitchen and pantry clean.

How to Get Rid of Rats in Vancouver

When it comes to rat removal, homeowners can choose to use poisoned bait or physical traps to eliminate lone invading rats. However, due to their ingenuity and rapid breeding habits, it’s usually best to tackle your infestation with the help of a professional rat control company. Our mice removal and rat removal processes consist of an initial service during which we isolate and seal any points of entry while strategically placing baits and traps throughout all areas of activity. We follow up with this service until the rodent problem is gone. For more information on how we can keep rodents out of your property, contact our rat exterminators today!