Norway Rats

Norway Rat Control Services

Considered widely to be one of the most destructive mammal pests, Norway rats compromise the well-being of humans and cause costly damage to manmade structures. They can live as long as two years in the wild and produce as many as 20 young in that span of time. Their shrewd intelligence, rapid rate of reproduction and elusive nature makes them particularly difficult to control. If you start noticing Norway rat problems that are too close for comfort, call Critter Control of San Jose. 

Many rat traps and baits are available to the general public. However, the effectiveness of store-bought removal methods is spotty at best. Calling the professionals at Critter Control of San Jose, who specialize in the Norway rat removal, offers a better chance at full removal. Our wildlife removal specialists have the knowledge to locate and identify Norway rat infestations and the tools required to safely and efficiently take care of the problem.

Preventative measures can be enacted to limit the possibility of Norway rat infestation, including but not limited to:

• Taking the time to regularly clean and sanitize can make the home environment an unfavorable place to nest.
• This includes wiping spills and sweeping up crumbs as soon as the messes are made and removing clutter in attics and basements.
• Additionally, storing food in sealed, rat-proof containers helps reduce the chance of infestation.
• Checking the outside of homes for possible points of entry and then sealing any that are found is another way to prevent Norway rat infestations. 
• Trimming trees and bushes that hangover or sit too close to homes as well as tightly sealing outdoor trash bins also limits the possibility of rats nesting in yards.

Their small size enables them to sneak into homes and sheds through cracks in the foundation and broken window screens. They sometimes gain access to homes through sewer systems or drainage pipes, as well. Norway rats can climb and jump with ease and may enter homes through chimneys.

Rats are so destructive that each year they destroy approximately 20% of all agricultural product in the world. But their destruction doesn’t stop there, rats can also climb trees, prey on nestlings and eat eggs! Rats have been a major cause of the decline in Tropical birds across the country.

Common Norway Rat Problems 

As Norway rats frequently live in sewers, garbage dumps, and other notoriously unclean sites, they threaten the health of any human who comes into contact with them.

• They are carriers of serious diseases that afflict both people and livestock, such as bubonic plague, typhus, leptospirosis, food poisoning, ratbite fever, and infectious jaundice. They are also hosts for other pests like lice and fleas.
• Since they consume many foods that humans also eat, Norway rats will pilfer stores of food when they infest homes. In addition to being a costly waste of food, this activity often facilitates the spread of disease.
• Norway rats can also inflict serious structural damage upon buildings. They will nest under concrete slabs and destroy the foundation of homes. Norway rats gnaw on doors, wall materials, insulation, and even electrical wiring, which can lead to fires.