Rats Pest Control

Characteristics Family: Muridae
Brownish or greyish rodents with a tail approximately as long as the body. Omnivorous, often live in or around buildings.

Species characteristics:
Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus)
• Common names are Norway rat, Common rat and Brown rat.
• Adults: 220-260mm long
• Tail length 160-200mm
• Weight 150-450g
• Droppings are approx 20mm long
• Upper brown body with a white, yellowish belly

Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
• Common names are Ship rat, Roof rat or Black rat.
• Adults: 180-230mm long
• Tail length 180-240mm long
• Weight 120-300g
• Droppings are approx 12mm long
• Despite its name it is usually black to light brown in colour with a lighter underside.
• Upper brown body with a white, yellowish belly

House Mouse (Mus musculus)
• Common name is the House mouse.
• Adults: 60-90mm
• Tail length 80-100mm long
• Weight 120-300g
• Weight 15g-33g max
• Droppings are approx 3-6mm long

Areas where found:
Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus) The Norway rat originated from Central to East Asia. It is thought to have arrived in Europe later than the Black rat, c. 16-17th century.
Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
The Black rat originated from India to Eastern Africa 2,000 years ago. The Black rat can now be found worldwide.
House Mouse (Mus musculus)
The House mouse originated from East-Asia and has spread throughout the world in distributed grain and food.

Importance as a pest: Human health
• Carriers of over 45 types of diseases including spirochaetes causing Weil’s Disease (Leptospirosis), Salmonella, E.coli, enteritis, listeriosis, rickettsiosis, dysentery and many others.
• Contamination of water and food
• Contamination of environment
• Indirect food losses
• Packaging destruction, spillage
• Contamination with faeces