Rat Infestation

Rats are disease carriers and can cause substantial structural damage and contamination.
A single female rat can have up to 6 litters a year. Each litter may contain up to 8 young and they are soon mature enough to start reproducing themselves. for that reason, If a rat problem is not seen to immediatley, it can turn into an infestation very quickly!!
Rats teeth grow continuosly, so they need to naw and chew to keep them short so they can feed.
With out the chewing their two front teeth can grow to 4 inches in a year.
Hence, one of the tell tale signs of a rat present, are signs of chewing.

Appearance

Up to 40 cm in length, with a tail shorter than the head and body.
350 – 500g in weight.
Blunt nose, small ears and a thicker body when compared to the Black Rat (Rattus rattus).

Lifecycle

7 – 8 young per litter; 3 – 6 litters a year.
Gestation period of about 3 weeks.
10 – 12 weeks from birth to sexual maturity.

Habits

Usually ground living and burrowing, but sometimes climbs. The only species to occur in sewers in the UK.
Preferred food is cereals.
Will eat around 30g of food a day and drink 60ml.