The Brown Rat
(Rattus norvegicus)
The brown rat has only been recorded in Britain since the early
18th Century. It is thought to have been introduced in shipping
from Russia, and did not originate in Norway.
It is now by far the more abundant of the two rats species
and is widely distributed in both urban and rural areas. It
occurs both indoors and outdoors away from human habitation,
and is the species often associated with sewer systems.
Reproduction & Life Cycle
They are capable of reproducing at the age of about 3 months.
Pair bonds are not formed as mating is carried out on an
opportunistic and promiscuous basis. When a female becomes
sexually receptive, her sent attracts all local males. Gestation
period is only 3 weeks and due to postpartum oestrus this can
occur every 3 weeks. Unlike most mammals that have to
wait until the original litter is weaned rats can mate again
after giving birth but this only occurs when conditions are
favourable for the young to survive. So therefore rats could
give birth every 24 to 28 days, and this can give rise to very
rapidly increasing populations.
Neophobia
"New object avoidance" or "new object fear" as neophobia is
often called.This may be elicited by any change in the rat's
environment. Although brown rats explore freely they do seem
to prefer to feed at certain locations and any new situations
confronting the animals are likely to be greeted with extreme
caution. Placing an unfamiliar objects (such as a bait
box) in the path of a rat or placing food in a different container
effectively prevents it using that path and reduces consumption
of any nearby food.
Disease
Weil's disease
About 50 -70 % of all rats in the UK are carriers of this disease.
They excrete the bacterium (Lepotospirosis) through their urine
into the environment, where it can survive for up to 45 days
in fresh water or damp conditions. The bacteria can enter the
human body via damaged skin (such as cuts and abrasions)
or the mouth and nose.
Before commencing any treatment you should contact
us for advice on any Rodent infestation and treatment.
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