RoofRat
Rattus rattus
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Tail longer than head and body combined. Well-developed ears. Flaked, hairless tail. Good looking, well-lustered fine fur.
COLOR
Dark grey with silver reflection.
SIZE AND WEIGHT
Length from head to body: 16-23 cm. Length of tail: 17-28 cm. Weight: 100-200 g.
REPRODUCTION: Gestation period: 21 days. Litter: 5-10 young. Number of litters per year: 3-5. Life span: 1-2 years.
BIOLOGY
Found everywhere. Animal generally nocturnal. Lives in dry biotops (roofs). Omnivourous and carnivorous; eats all provisions. Very distrustful; avoids traps and all new situations. Vector of numerous diseases.
Norway Rat
Rattus norvegicus
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Strong body, well-defined head, has as elongated and quite pointed nose. Medium-sized ears. Long, flaked, ringed tail; shorter than the head and body combined.
COLOR
Rust brown to rust, passing by grey brown.
SIZE AND WEIGHT
Length from head to body: 19-26 cm. Length of tail: 16-20 cm. Weight: 200-475 g.
REPRODUCTION
Gestation period: 22-24 days. Litter: 6-12 young. Number of litters per year: 3-5.
Life span: 1 year, but the population renews itself very fast.
BIOLOGY
The most common rodent. Found especially in low humidity areas. Always needs a source of water, as its water needs are substantial. It is omnivorous. Adapts itself to any surroundings where it lives. Causes enormous damage by gnawing on doors, wood-work, beams, electrical wires, pipelines, etc... Vector of diseases caused by its fleas (foot-and-mouth disease, typhus, plague, etc...).
House Mouse
Mus musculus
PHYSICAL CHRACTERISTICS
Small size. Pointed nose. Small black eyes. Long, wide ears. Long tail covered with fine fur. Typical odor due to its urine.
COLOR
Differs according to habitat; from dark brown to rust brown.
SIZE AND WEIGHT
Length from head to body: 6.8-9 cm. Length of tail: 5-7 cm. Weight: 10- 20g.
REPRODUCTION: Gestation Period: 21 days. Litter: 6-8 young. Number of litters per year: 4-6, at times as many as 10. Life span: 2 years.
BIOLOGY
Found buildings where it eats all foods; attacking papers, books, clothing, insulation material, etc... Emerges usually at night, but also at daytime in uninhabited premises
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Rat Diseases
Here is information on some of the diseases caused by rats, as gathered from the Center For Disease Control & Prevention http://www.cdc.gov
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS):
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a deadly disease transmitted by infected rodents through urine, droppings, or saliva. Humans can contract the disease when they breathe in aerosolized virus. HPS was first recognized in 1993 and has since been identified throughout the United States. Although rare, HPS is potentially deadly. Rodent control in and around the home remains the primary strategy for preventing hantavirus infection.
Murine Typhus: Murine typhus (caused by infection with R. typhi) occurs worldwide and is transmitted to humans by rat fleas. Flea-infested rats can be found throughout the year in humid tropical environments, but in temperate regions are most common during the warm summer months. Travelers who visit in rat-infested buildings and homes, especially in harbor or riverine environments, can be at risk for exposure to the agent of murine typhus.
Rat-bite fever (RBF): Rat-bite fever (RBF) is a systemic bacterial illness caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis that can be acquired through the bite or scratch of a rodent or the ingestion of food or water contaminated with rat feces.
Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium: As its name suggests, it causes a typhoid-like disease in mice. In humans S. Typhimurium does not cause as severe disease as S. Typhi, and is not normally fatal. The disease is characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, vomiting and nausea, and generally lasts up to 7 days. Unfortunately, in immunocompromized people, that is the elderly, young, or people with depressed immune systems, Salmonella infections are often fatal if they are not treated with antibiotics.
Leptospirosis: Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. In humans it causes a wide range of symptoms, and some infected persons may have no symptoms at all. Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash. If the disease is not treated, the patient could develop kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, and respiratory distress. In rare cases death occurs.
Eosinophilic Meningitis: Eosinophilic meningitis is an infection of the brain occurring in association with an increase in the number of eosinophils, white blood cells that are associated with infection with worms that penetrate into the body. The organism most commonly causing eosinophilic meningitis is a rat lung worm called angiostrongylus cantonensis.
