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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Front foot NUMBER-toed
Front foot 4-toed
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
hind print with NUMBER toes.
hind print with 5 toes.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Consistently follow
same paths, usually along walls, stacked merchandise, etc.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
preferred foods
meat, fish, and cereal (dry dog food a favorite)
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Norway rats reach sexual maturity in NUMBER months.
2-5 months.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Pregnancy lasts an average of DAYS
23 days (range 21-25).
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
reach sexual maturity at WEEKS
8-12 weeks.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
The average number of litters is PER YEAR
3-6 per year (range 3-12), each containing an average of 7-8 young (range 4-22)
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Adults live an average of MONTHS TO MONTHS
5-12 months in towns and cities, but much longer in captivity.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
They have rather poor
vision and are color blind, but their senses of hearing, smell, touch, and taste are keenly developed.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Touch is via their
vibrissae or long whiskers.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
They are good
runners, climbers, jumpers, and swimmers (documented record is 1,300 ft or 400 m across open ocean).
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
A Norway rat requires OZ of food and 1/2-1 oz (15-30 ml) of water each day, with the water coming from a nonfood source.
3/4-1 oz (21-28 g) of food
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
A Norway rat requires 3/4-1 oz (21-28 g) of food of food and OZ of water each day, with the water coming from a nonfood source.
1/2-1 oz (15-30 ml) of water each day
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
the disease most commonly thought of involving rats (roof rat primarily) is plague which is transmitted via
fleas leaving an infected rat and attacking man.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Other transmittable diseases include
murine typhus via fleas (also possibly via droppings and urine), infectious jaundice/leptospirosis/Weil’s Disease via urine in water or food, rat-bite fever via bites, cowpox virus (CPXV) via direct contact, trichinosis via undercooked pork, and food poisoning or Salmonellosis via droppings.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Another disease is _ mite dermatitis that is caused by these mites when they feed on humans.
tropical rat
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Rats are primarily
nocturnal in habit and they are cautious.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Although they constantly explore
their surroundings, they shy away from new objects and changes.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Outdoors, Norway rats prefer to nest in
burrows in the soil along railroad embankments, stream/river banks, piles of rubbish, under concrete slabs, etc.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
The burrow will have at least 1 _ hole and at least 1 bolt-hole or emergency exit which is often hidden under grass, debris, etc.
Entrance
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
The burrow will have at least 1 entrance hole and at least 1 bolt-hole or _ which is often hidden under grass, debris, etc.
Emergency exit
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
The burrow will have at least 1 entrance hole and at least 1 bolt-hole or emergency exit which is often
hidden under grass, debris, etc.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
These are social animals and often many burrows will be
located within a given area.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
An opening of greater than INCH is required for entry into buildings.
1/2" (12 mm)
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Indoors, Norway rats usually nest in
basements and the lower portions of buildings in piles of debris or merchandise as long as it is not disturbed.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Although Norway rats prefer the ground or lower levels of buildings and sewers, on occasion they may be found in
attics, on roofs, and in other high places.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Norway rats are opportunistic feeders and although they will eat practically anything, they prefer
meat, fish, and cereal.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
If the food material eaten proves to be disagreeable, they are quick to develop
food/bait shyness.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Once they find an acceptable/preferred food, rats tend to eat their fill in
one or two visits and will return time after time;
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
if the area of food is constantly disturbed, they may require several
return visits to get their fill.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
They almost always require a nonfood or separate
source of water.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Norway rats will travel about 100-150 ft (30.5-45.7 m) from their harborage for food and/or water; in urban areas the average home range is about FEET TO FEET
25-100 ft (8-30.5 m).
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
They will gnaw through almost anything to obtain
food and/or water, even plastic or lead pipes.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Norway rats typically forage and feed at
dusk and again prior to dawn, although they will forage several times each night and during the daytime.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
If the area is quiet and undisturbed, daytime activity may or may not indicate
an overpopulation.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
They do carry off food to
less disturbed areas for consumption, or to hoard.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Once established, Norway rats tend to follow the
same route or pathway between their harborage and food and/or water sources.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Rats defecate somewhat indiscriminately within
their territories but mostly where they feed.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Rat droppings serve as an indication of
their presence and where control efforts should be concentrated.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Rats are
gluttons.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Place sufficient bait in each bait station for at least
1 meal (stop-feed baits), 2 meals (acute/single-feed baits), or more (chronic/multi-feed baits)
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Once a preferred bait is found, they
utilize this bait until feeding stops.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Prebaiting with unset snap traps is advisible, and secure to the trigger with
unsected/unflavored dental floss.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Rats usually have a water source other than their food if their food has a
low moisture content.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Liquid baits are particularly effective when their normal water source can be
reduced or eliminated.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Droppings will indicate the
best placement sites.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Outdoors, gassing (fumigating) rat burrows is
extremely effective.
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NORWAY RAT FIELD GUIDE
Follow label directions and do not gas burrows within FEET
15 ft (4.6 m) of an occupied structure, or burrows which may run under or open into an occupied structure.
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