RatsRats

Rats are some of the most troublesome and damaging rodents. They eat and contaminate food, garden produce, and fruit, and transmit diseases to humans and pets. Manage rats by removing food and shelter, eliminating entryways into buildings, and trapping.

Indications of a rat infestation:

✦Ratdroppingsingarages,storagebuildings,orattics,oraroundpetfoodcontainers.

✦Rodentfeedingdamageontreefruitornutsinyouryard.

✦Ratnestsbehindboxes,ingaragedrawers,orinwoodpiles.

✦Burrowsbeneathgarbagecansandcompostpilesoramonggardenplants.

✦Ratstravelingalongutilitylinesoronfencetopsatdusk.

Is it a Norway rat or a roof rat?

✦ThestockyNorwayratbuildsburrowsalongbuildingfoundations,beneathrubbish,orinwoodpiles.Indoorstheytendtoremaininbasementsoronthegroundfloor.

✦Roofratsareagileclimberswithataillongerthantheirheadandbody.Theyusuallyliveandnestabovegroundinshrubs,trees,ordensevegetation.Indoorstheyfavoratticspaces,walls,falseceilings,andcabinets.

To get rid of rats, remove food, water, and shelter, and seal entryways!

✦ Feedpetsonlytheamountoffoodtheywilleatatasinglefeeding.

✦Keepgarbage,trash,andgardendebrisinreceptacleswithtight-fittinglids.

✦Thindensevegetationandcreateatleasta2-footspacebetweeneachshrubaswellasbetweenshrubsandbuildings.

✦Thinorremoveclimbinghedgesfrombuildings.✦Removetreelimbsthatarewithin3feetofaroof.✦ Sealallcracksandopeningsinthehouse’sfoundation

thatarelargerthan1⁄4inch.✦Makesuredoors,windows,and

screensfittightly.

University of CaliforniaStatewide Integrated Pest

Management Program

Remove rats from the home by trapping.

✦ Snaptrapsarethesafest,mosteffective,andmosteconomicalwaytotraprats.

✦ ForNorwayrats,placetrapsclosetowalls,behindobjects,indarkcorners,andinplaceswhereyouhavefoundratdroppings.

✦ Forroofrats,placetrapsinoff-the-groundlocationssuchasledges,shelves,branches,fences,pipes,oroverheadbeams.

What about baits?

✦Avoidusingbaitsindoors,becausedeadratscreatebadodors.

✦ Sealbuildingsbeforebaitingoutsidetopreventpoisonedratsfromcominginsidetodie.

✦Placebaitsintamper-proofbaitstationsandsecurethemfromchildrenandpets.

✦Allrodentbaitsaretoxictopets.

Minimize the use of pesticides that pollute our waterways. Use nonchemical alternatives or less toxic pesticide products whenever possible. Read product labels carefully and follow instructions

on proper use, storage, and disposal.

For more information about managing pests, contact your University of California Cooperative Extension office listed under the county government pages of your phone book or visit the UC IPM Web site at www.ipm.ucdavis.edu.

See Pest Notes: Ratsat www.ipm.ucdavis.edu for more details.

What you use in your landscapeaffects our rivers and oceans!

University of CaliforniaCooperative ExtensionStatewide IPM Program November 2012

Roof rat

Norway rat

longer thanhead + body

lightslender

large large pointed

tail body ear eye nose

shorter thanhead + body

heavythick

small small blunt