Ernies Pest Control

Ernie's Pest Control services Toledo, Northwest Ohio and Lower Michigan.

Preventive measures for all pests you can take are :

Do not leave piles of clothing, papers or other miscellaneous things laying around
Regular cleaning and maintenance of your home or business
When cleaning, check under carpet edges and baseboards
Do not have dirty dishes piled up and sitting for long periods of time, especially not in old water
Especially in hot weather, put your food scraps in plastic before disposing of them
Schedule regular pest control maintenance
If you see one pest or insect, chances are you are not seeing rest. A call to Ernie's Pest Control should be made to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.

Norway Rats (Rattus Norvegicus)

Characteristics

The coloring for the Norway Rat is usually grayish - brown, but they may vary from pure gray to reddish or blackish brown
Norway rats bodies are heavy and thick, 7 - 10 inches long
Their average weight is 10 -17 ounces
Their eyes are small, and they are color blind with poor eyesight, primarily seeing movements, shadows and light
Their tails are shorter than their bodies, 6 - 8 1/2 inches long
Their nose and muzzle are blunt, and they have an acute sense of smell
Rats can swim up to 1 mile, are good climbers and can survive a fall of 8 feet onto a hard surface
Rat droppings are 3/4 inch long, and they average 30 - 180 droppings per day
This rat species has a very strong social hierarchy, the biggest and strongest Norway rats get the best food and harborage
Norway rats can gnaw through wood, lead, aluminum, copper, cinder block and uncured concrete
The Norway Rat is the most common rat in the United States

Habitat

Norway rats burrow in soil, and nest in basements, lower portions of buildings, and hard to reach places

Diet

These rats are omnivores, meats, fish, flour, cereal grains, fruits and vegetables, and they will eat almost any human food
Rats visit fewer sites than mice, but eat more per site, 3/4 - 1 ounce of food per day
They also require 1/2 - 1 ounce of water per day to survive

Reproduction

Other Rat Facts

Rats are instinctively wary of traps and bait
Rats colonize and nest in basements, attics, burrows under porches and concrete, in wall voids and other hard to reach places
Rats harbor and transmit a number of serious diseases, and also lice, fleas and ticks

Roof Rat (Rattus Rattus)

Characteristics

Roof Rat coloring is usually black or brown with a slender body, 6 1/2 - 8 inches long
Average weight is 6 - 12 ounces
Roof Rats have large ears that would cover the eyes if bent over
Their eyes are large and prominent, and they are color blind with poor eyesight, primarily seeing movements, shadows and light
Their tail is hairless and longer than the head and body, 7 1/2 - 10 inches long
The nose and muzzle are pointed, and Roof Rats have an acute sense of smell
Roof Rats have smooth fur
Their droppings have pointed ends and are about 1/2 inch long, a Roof Rat averages 30 - 180 droppings per day
Roof Rats can swing, jump and climb, and can squeeze through an opening only 1/2 inch wide
Roof Rats can gnaw through wood, lead, aluminum, copper, cinder block and uncured concrete

Habitat

Roof Rats will nest inside and under buildings, especially in upper portions of buildings, but they don't really burrow
They also nest in trees, ivy and similar vegetation, or in piles of rubbish

Diet

These rats are omnivores, seeds, fruits, vegetables, eggs and grain
Roof Rats visit fewer sites than mice, but eat more per site, 1/2 - 1 ounce of food per day, and drink up to 1 ounce of liquid per day
Most feeding and activity takes place 1/2 hour after sundown until 1/2 hour before sunrise

Reproduction

Roof Rats become sexually mature at four months producing 4 - 6 litters per year with 4 - 8 young per litter
Adults live up to 1 year

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