Rats’ fecal
matter is laden with germs, and can be the cause
of more than 20 diseases, spread through
contact, inhalation of dried pellets, and
ingestion. Salmonella, Hantavirus, and the
plague are just a few. Rats leave behind small
piles of pellets as they travel along their
paths throughout the day. The amount of waste
produced is dependent on how much they eat each
day. They are not particular about where they
defecate or urinate so if you have an
infestation it will be in your attic, walls, and
kitchen, as well as where they are nesting. When
rats “go”, they leave several dark colored rice
shaped pellets scattered around in a pile.
Unlike mice, rat feces have rounded ends. The
fresher the droppings, the darker the color will
be. Rats create a lot of waste. It’s not just
about the food they it has a lot to do with
their constant chewing. Rats continuously chew
on wood, plastic, electrical cords and more. The
pieces are mostly ingested and end up as bodily
waste. Rats also use their feces and strong
smelling urine to mark their territory. This
scent trail keeps the rat from getting lost as
it travels in search of food. Their scented
droppings are particularly useful when moving in
the dark areas where rats can’t see very well.
If you discover a large quantity of rat
droppings, do not clean the mess until you are
wearing proper sanitary equipment like gloves
and a mask. Try to use a scoop to remove the
waste because of its great potential for
spreading disease. Clean the area thoroughly
with disinfectant, and wash any fabric. People
who come in contact with a high quantity of
rodent waste may need to be hospitalized if They
contract Salmonella, Hantavirus, or a handful of
other dangerous diseases that can be spread by
contact with rat feces.
Go back to the How
to get rid of rats home page.
Find out more about rats in my educational articles. Learn if rats carry rabies, the sounds they make, what to do if a rat gets inside your house. I can show you how to find and remove a dead rat and let you know where you should relocate a trapped rat. Read about the Property Modifications that will keep rat populations down. Find out if you should hire a pro or remove rats yourself. Learn more on if you should ever poison a rat and some humane ways to kill a rat. Find out if it's possible for rats to enter buildings through Plumbing and if homeowners insurance will pay for rat damage. Learn the likelihood of a rat in the attic having a nest of babies and what wildlife rehabilitators do with rats. Find out if rats hibernate, if repellents will get a rat out of the attic, and if the city or county animal services will help you with a rat issue.
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