Is It Dangerous To Have Norway Rats In My Sarasota Home?

While Sarasota, Florida, is known for its pristine white beaches, it is so much more! Water enthusiasts will thrill at the prospect of swimming with the manatees or taking a boat ride to view Florida’s wild side. “Landlubbers” have alternatives like farmer’s markets, exotic animals, or fine arts facilities. Sarasota has activities for everyone – even the local rodents! The “not-so-exotic” Norway Rats and Roof Rats like to explore. If Sarasota residents are not careful, they may be participating in an expedition to the innermost parts of their homes.

Habits & Behaviors Of Norway Rats In Sarasota

The Norway rat is called many names, including brown, sewer, or street rats. While people believe it came from Asia, it has been in the United States since the 1700s. Since Norway rats are common invaders of Sarasota homes, it is vital to be well-versed in their habits and behaviors.

The habits and behaviors of the Norway rat include the following:

Habits:

• They are considered nocturnal (active at night).
• When they eat, they typically find an “out-of-the-way” location.
• They prefer to eat cereals, fish, meat, and even dog food.
• Outdoor burrows are typically by garbage, woodpiles, riverbanks, concrete slabs, streams, and railroad embankments.  This is much less common in Florida because of the high water table and loose soil. 
• Norway rats tend to stay in crawl spaces, under mobile homes, or inside of other debris near the ground. 
• Although they tend to stay low, we commonly find norway rats in attics and inside houses just as we do with the roof rat.  We feel this is more common in Florida than on other areas of the US 

Behaviors:

• They use all their senses well except for their eyes (their eyesight is poor). Their whiskers help them “feel” their way around your home and sense pressure differential.
• While not particularly athletic, Norway rats swim, jump, climb, and run pretty well.
• These rats eat almost everything, although they are hardwired to be neophobic
• They are social rodents.
• They squeeze into tiny places.  Their skull is the limiting factor.  
• Norway rats gnaw and plow through almost anything (even lead pipes and plastics).
• They know what foods satisfy their pallet and will follow regular routes to foods they enjoy.

The Diseases Norway Rats In Sarasota Are Capable Of Spreading

Diseases caused by Norway rats are spread by direct contact with their saliva, urine, and feces, by handling the rodents directly, or by bites. They also transport other pests (fleas, ticks, mites) that often feed on rodents, leading to indirect infections.

Four diseases carried by Norway rats that are serious include the following:

1. Salmonellosis
2. Rat-bite fever
3. Tularemia
4. Leptospirosis

How Norway Rats Get Into Sarasota Homes

You can’t get rid of rodents until you know how they get into your home. Norway rats are not the smallest of the rodent family, yet they can squeeze through cracks the size of a quarter! Any gaps and holes around your home are an open invitation for a rodent to enter your home. Even though Norway rats tend to be more comfortable on the ground, they are good climbers and can access gaps, holes, and crevices by using things around the outside of your home as a bridge to access weak areas in your home’s defenses. They can even swim to reach favorable destinations!

The Trick To Getting Rid Of Norway Rats In Your Sarasota Home

Norway rats in Sarasota can produce anywhere from three to six litters yearly; that’s some quick reproduction. Because they are social, they like to dwell together, so infestations can quickly get out of hand. The best way to get rid of rats fast is by calling a pest control company specializing in rat control, like Rodent Solutions, at the first sign of a rodent. Before any work begins, we provide a detailed rodent inspection, pictures, and a line-item rodent exclusion estimate. As a 5-Star Google Rated company. you can place your trust in Rodent Solutions, and call us today to get started on our effective rodent control!