Life Cycle of Brown Rats in Ohio

Brown rats (Rattus norvegicus), also known as Norway rats, have a life cycle that typically lasts about one year in the wild. Brown rats are born hairless, blind, and deaf. The average litter size of Norway rats in Ohio is between 6 and 12 pups, however, litters of up to 22 have been documented. At around 5-6 weeks of age Norway rats reach sexual maturity and can begin to reproduce. This is also the age which they begin leaving the nest and venture out on their own.

How To Identify Rats in Ohio

Norway rats are the most common species of rats in Ohio, and generally, the only kind of rat you’ll find. These rats are often larger than other species, with adults measuring about 7-10 inches in length, not including their tail.

Color

Norway rats in Ohio are typically brown or grayish-brown in color, and their underside is usually lighter in color than their back and sides.

Body

Rats in Ohio have stocky, robust bodies with a blunt muzzle and small ears. They have a long and scaly tail that is shorter than their body length. Rats in Ohio are often 7-10 inches in length and it can be quite intimidating coming across one.

Fur

Rats in Ohio have dense brown fur that’s coarse with guard hairs that give them a bristly appearance.

Feet / Claws

Norway rats in Ohio have sharp, curved claws on their toes that are used for several purposes including climbing, digging, and defense. Rats are known to be good climbers and can also use their claws to scale walls, trees, and pipes. They also use these claws as a weapon when cornered or threatened.

Behavior of Rats in Ohio

Norway rats are social animals that typically live in groups. They are active at night and spend most of their time foraging for food and water, grooming, and interacting with other rats in the nest. Norway rats in Ohio are known for their intelligence and adaptability, as well as their ability to reproduce quickly. Norway rats can form complex social structures and have been observed exhibiting behaviors such as grooming, play, and altruism.

When it comes to their relationship with people in Ohio, Norway rats are considered pests due to their tendency to enter homes and other structures in search of food and warmth. Rats cause damage to property by chewing through wires, insulation, and other materials. They also contaminate food and spread disease through their feces and urine.

Norway Rats Aggression Towards Humans

Every year, thousands of people are bitten by rats throughout the United States, with most incidents happening in urban areas. Sleeping infants and bedridden elderly individuals are at higher risk of being bitten on the face. Rat-bite fever is a disease caused by the bacterium carried in the teeth and gums of many rats, which can be fatal and is especially dangerous when infants get it.

Diseases Norway Rats Transmit

Rats in Ohio can be carriers of various diseases, which can be transmitted to humans either directly or indirectly. Direct transmission can occur when rats contaminate food with their urine or feces, while indirect transmission can occur when fleas bite an infected rat and then bite a person. Some of the diseases rats in Ohio carry include Rat-Bite Fever, salmonella food poisoning, Leptospirosis or Weil’s disease, the Plague, Murine Typhus Fever, Trichinosis, and more.

Physical Abilities

Norway rats in Ohio are skilled acrobats, able to jump 3 feet high and 4 feet across. Rats can climb pipes up to three inches in diameter and they can scale narrow power lines between buildings. They are also excellent swimmers, capable of covering half a mile in open waters and they can survive falls over 50 feet.

Rats are constantly gnawing on hard objects, rats can chew through a variety of building materials such as cinder blocks, aluminum siding, and in some cases lead pipes. Rats in Ohio can squeeze through openings in buildings as small as 1/2 inch wide after gnawing a hole.

Senses of Rats in Ohio

Rats in Ohio have limited visual capabilities, with almost no ability to perceive colors and they mainly rely on movement and shapes for object identification. However, rats compensate for their poor vision by relying heavily on their sense of smell to locate food, detect dangers, and identify new objects in their environment. Rats in Ohio also use their long whiskers and guard hairs to navigate through dark and narrow spaces, as well as their amazing ability to hear. Their keen sense of taste gives Norway rats the ability to taste certain chemicals at a parts-per-billion concentration, which may cause them to avoid traps or baits that are contaminated with pesticides. Additionally, rats in Ohio have sensitive ears that can detect even the faintest sounds that indicate danger.

In conclusion, rats in Ohio have adapted to their environment by relying on their sense of smell, touch, and hearing. Despite the limited vision of rats in Ohio, they are able to navigate through dark and narrow spaces, scavenge for food, and detect danger with their ears, whiskers, and sense of taste.

Diet & Feeding Habits

Rats are considered nocturnal feeders, with their main feeding time being just after sunset and their secondary feeding time being early in the morning. Rats in Ohio can forage within a diameter of 100-150 feet, and they can sometimes have a nest up to 100 feet away from their feeding area.

Norway rats require approximately one ounce of dry food and water each day, and they prefer protein-based foods like meat, fish, insects, nuts, and grains. Rats are known to hoard food in hidden areas and prefer to nest underground if possible, with shallow burrows under 18 inches and entry holes of 2-4 inches in diameter. When living in buildings, rats in Ohio typically stay in the basement or on the ground floor and prefer nesting close to a water source.

How You Can Identify A Rat Problem

When it comes to identifying a rat problem inside your home or business, there are several indicators that you should keep an eye out for. Some of the most common signs of rats in Ohio include droppings, gnaw marks on wood or wires, grease marks along walls or floors, urine stains, and the presence of burrows or nests within the walls and insulation. Rats in Ohio often nest in secluded areas such as attics, wall voids, and basements. Their nests can be made from shredded paper, fabric, or other materials, and typically contain rat droppings and urine stains. Rats often gnaw on their surroundings to keep their teeth trimmed and to gain access to food and nesting sites. If there is a rat present then you will likely find gnaw marks on the baseboards, wires, support joists, and other materials that are near the rats nest or their food source.

If rats in Ohio have infested your home, there is a probability that you will spot live rats or dead ones, this usually happens near food sources and along walls. In most cases, rat droppings are the easiest way to confirm their presence. Rats leave droppings that are usually about 1/2 to 3/4 inches long and shaped like a spindle. Fresh rat droppings are dark and soft, while older droppings harden and dry.

If you suspect the presence of rats in your Ohio home, it is important to take action quickly to prevent an infestation from taking hold. This may include sealing up entry points, removing food sources, or contacting a trusted pest control company such as The Pest Detective. Our exterminators have the experience and tools to effectively locate and eliminate rats in Ohio and their nests, as well as provide preventive measures to avoid future infestations.