Norway Rats
Rattus norvegicus
Norway rats are large, heavy-bodied rodents with brown or gray fur, small ears, small eyes, and a blunt nose. Adults measure 7-9 inches in body length with tails slightly shorter than their body, weighing 10-17 ounces. Also called brown rats or sewer rats, they're excellent swimmers and burrowers, creating extensive tunnel systems.
Habitat & Behavior
Norway rats live in lower levels of structures, preferring basements, crawl spaces, ground floors, and areas near foundations. Outdoors, they burrow along building foundations, beneath debris piles, in gardens, and near water sources. They create networks of runways and burrows with multiple entrance holes typically 2-4 inches in diameter with smooth, worn edges.
Signs of Infestation
- Large, dark droppings with blunt ends, about 3/4 inch long
- Burrow openings along foundations, under debris, or in landscaping
- Greasy rub marks along walls, pipes, and beams where rats travel
- Gnaw marks on wood, plastic pipes, electrical wires, and food packaging
- Sounds of heavy movement in walls or ceilings at night
- Runways or paths through grass with tracks and grease marks
Health & Property Risks
Norway rats spread serious diseases including Leptospirosis, Salmonella, and rat-bite fever through their urine, droppings, and bites. They cause extensive property damage by gnawing through building materials, creating fire hazards by chewing electrical wiring, and contaminating food supplies. Rats can trigger asthma and allergies, and their parasites like fleas and mites can infest homes. A single pair can produce up to 2,000 descendants in one year.
Prevention Tips
- Seal all openings larger than 1/2 inch with heavy materials like concrete or metal
- Eliminate outdoor harboring sites by removing debris, woodpiles, and dense vegetation
- Store garbage in metal containers with tight-fitting lids
- Fix drainage problems and eliminate standing water sources
- Keep food in metal or thick plastic containers and clean up spills immediately
- Maintain a vegetation-free zone of at least 2 feet around your foundation
Professional Treatment Approach
Greenix's Norway rat control program includes comprehensive property inspection to locate burrows, entry points, and activity areas. We implement an integrated approach using secured bait stations with professional rodenticides, snap traps, and exclusion services. Our technicians eliminate conducive conditions, seal entry points with rodent-proof materials, and provide ongoing monitoring. We focus on exterior perimeter control to intercept rats before they enter your home.
Related Pests
Other common rodents you might encounter
House Mice
House mice are small rodents with gray or light brown fur, large ears, small black eyes, and a slightly pointed nose. Adults measure 2.5 to 3.5 inches in body length with tails of similar length, weighing only 0.5 to 1 ounce. Despite their small size, mice are prolific breeders capable of producing 5-10 litters per year with 5-6 young per litter.
Voles
Voles are small, stocky rodents measuring 4 to 7 inches in total length with short tails, small eyes, and rounded ears. Often called meadow mice or field mice, they have dense brown or gray fur and blunt noses. Unlike true mice, voles have compact bodies and shorter tails. These prolific breeders can produce 5-10 litters per year with 3-6 young per litter, allowing populations to explode rapidly under favorable conditions.
Moles
Eastern moles are gray to black, cylindrical mammals measuring 5 to 8 inches long with enlarged front feet adapted for digging. They have tiny, barely visible eyes, no external ears, and short velvety fur. Moles are not rodents but insectivores, feeding primarily on earthworms, grubs, and soil insects. A single mole can tunnel 18 feet per hour and consume 70-100% of its body weight in food daily.
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