Just the mere thought of mice and rats leave home and business owners across the county cringing in fear. Early winter in particular is the time of year that rodents look for warm places abundant with food and water sources to overwinter during the colder months. The Norway rat is one of the most common rodents found in Texan homes. They are typically 7 to 9 inches in length and weigh approximately 12 ounces. Despite their small size, the Norway rat has a formidable reputation for carrying diseases that can be spread throughout your home putting you and your family at risk.
Norway AKA Sewer, Wharf & Brown Rats
The Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) is known by many names including the sewer rat, wharf rat, and the brown rat among others. Despite its namesake, the Norway rat is believed to have originated in China before making its way across the rest of Asia, infesting Europe and the rest of the world through trade routes. Throughout the course of human history, where populations have settled, the Norway rat has quickly followed. They have an especially unsavory preference for feasting on discarded food items and can be found in city dumps across the world.
Are Norway Rat Infestations a Health Risk?
Norway rats have long incisors that continually grow to require them to chew constantly. Unfortunately, this can cause serious issues in homes and businesses when they gnaw and chew on wooden doors and other items made from wood, or even worse electrical wires which can become a fire hazard, particularly where live wires are concerned. Norway rats are also responsible for spreading disease, both directly and indirectly when they take up residence within your home. For example, if you should inadvertently come across one and the rat feels threatened it may scratch or bite to get away from you which can lead to scratch bite fever or leptospirosis; a bacterial infection which causes a range of symptoms including headache, fever, and muscle pain and in severe cases, jaundice, kidney failure and pulmonary hemorrhage. Other diseases carried by Norway rats include salmonella, a foodborne illness spread through contaminated food or food preparation surfaces. Symptoms include diarrhea and severe intestinal distress. Other illnesses include choriomeningitis, a viral disease which presents as aseptic meningitis, encephalitis or meningoencephalitis which can be fatal as well as hantavirus, which can be spread through rat saliva, and indirectly through rat droppings and fleas carried by the rat.
Norway Rat & Rodent Inspections, Control, Removal & More in Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville & Cedar Park, Texas
Norway rats are both an unwelcome and dangerous guest for home and business owners, getting them out of your home can prove to be difficult without the help of your A-Tex Pest Management professionals. While many property owners have tried and failed when attempting to remove rodents on their own, the experienced team at A-Tex Pest Management can quickly determine the extent of your infestation, remove rodents from your property, and ensure that you are protected from future infestations. To learn more about rodent control, removal, prevention, and exclusion services for your Greater Austin Texas home or business, contact the experts at A-Tex Pest Management today.