Rats must be the most hated of all rodents. People living in the country will have them eating crops and sneaking round in the undergrowth; those that live in cities will have no doubt seen them - or their evidence - round the bins or side streets. Always considered dirty little creatures in my book, they skulk around with their beady little eyes and disgusting fleshy tails. In the Isle of Man, it is considered so unlucky to even say the word ‘rat’ that people refer to them only as ‘longtails’.

The best-known Rattus species are the black rat (R. rattus) and the brown rat (R. norvegicus). Although there are actually more than 50 subspecies of rats, each one has its own behaviour traits, appearance, location, diet, and will carry different diseases.

They outnumber us

I read that there are there are ‘up to four rats’ per person in cities (four!), and are a major city pest control problem. They can destroy goods and food, and spread diseases. In Chicago an organization is trying to address the city's rat problem by releasing feral cats onto the streets, and apparently has released 1,000 feral cats onto city streets since 2012. Rats are smart – they will move in where there are catering establishments, abandoned plots of land, and sewage networks – in fact, anywhere that will provide both shelter and food. They are also very comfortable living in alleyways and residential buildings, as these usually provide a large and continuous food source.

They outnumber us!

Even if seeing one single rat is enough to make you shudder, the truth is that there are likely to be more. Rats are clever creatures that can squeeze into the tiniest of gaps, and once they have made themselves at home, they will breed. A female can have between 3 and 12 litters a year, and each litter can produce up to 10 babies. Do the math – based on these figures, apparently one male and female rat could produce up to 250,000 offspring in just three years.

Food Supply

Rats destroy nearly 20 percent of the world's food supply annually, either by eating it or by some form of contamination, and are responsible for the spread of numerous bacteria - hantavirus, leptospirosis and salmonella, to name a few.

Credits: Unsplash;

Signs you might have rats (or mice!) actually in the house

Keep your eyes open for tell-tale signs – droppings, the smell of urine, gnawed or damaged food packaging, nests made with shredded material, chewed wires, pipes, insulation or cardboard, and the sounds of scurrying, especially late at night. Your pets might be aware before you are, by behaving oddly and pawing in corners.

Can rats be aggressive to humans?

Typically, they run away at the first sign of danger and avoid contact with humans. However, there are circumstances where rats may bite - if they find themselves cornered, their behaviour changes, and they won't hesitate to attack. If you see one, stay calm and avoid panicking. Keep your distance and close any doors to keep it confined to one area if possible. If you suspect your problem is down to one single rat, you'll likely be able to solve the problem with one or two strategically placed traps. If, however, there's an infestation on your property, you'll probably need to place a dozen or so traps all around your house, and it is suggested you contact an organisation who specialise in pest control.

Rat Facts

Rats are born with two pairs of incisors, one pair at the top jaw, one pair at the bottom. These grow continuously throughout their life, and can grow as much as 1 millimetre daily if not worn down! They are skilled movers, and can navigate and leap through their surroundings with impressive agility. Additionally, they are excellent swimmers, able to paddle and tread water for extended periods - and hold their breath for up to three minutes!

Author

Marilyn writes regularly for The Portugal News, and has lived in the Algarve for some years. A dog-lover, she has lived in Ireland, UK, Bermuda and the Isle of Man. 

Marilyn Sheridan