Norway Rats

What do Norway rats look like?

a norway rat in a bookcase inside of a home in morris illinois

Adult Norway rats have brown coats speckled with black hairs that make them look disheveled. Their belly fur is lighter than the rest of their bodies. They have blunt noses, small ears, bulging black eyes, and tails that are darker on top and lighter on the bottom. They grow to be about 7 to 9-1/2 inches in length and their tails add another 6 to 8 inches. Norway rats can also be identified by their droppings, which are shaped like rods with blunt ends.

Where are Norway rats found?

Norway rats are poor climbers, so they are typically found on the ground level of structures, including basements and crawlspaces. They can also be found burrowing under sidewalks, decks, garages, foundations, and in piles of wood or debris. This type of rodent is nocturnal, so you don’t often see them, but you might hear them moving around at night. Norway rats have poor eyesight, so they follow the same “runway” from their nest to food sources. If you see grease marks and dirt along walls and other objects, you may have discovered a runway in your Iowa & Illinois home or commercial facility.

What do Norway rats eat?

Norway rats like to live with or near people in order to feed on their favorite food items such as fish, dry cereal, meat, and pet food. They will also use garbage as their own personal buffet. Norway rats will consume almost anything that they come across that is edible.

DIY Norway rat prevention and control tips

Norway rats can cause structural damage to your home, damage personal items, introduce dangerous diseases to your family, and contaminate food sources. Preventing rodents like these from choosing your home to live in is important to the health and safety of your family and the structural integrity of your home. The following tips can help prevent Norway rats from choosing your home or business to invade:

Remove piles of debris from your property, and keep woodpiles a distance away from the outside of your home.
Make sure that outdoor trash cans have tight-fitting lids on them, and store them away from the exterior of your home.
Store pet food in plastic or metal containers that have locking lids. Any pet food that is uneaten should be picked up and discarded.
Inspect your home’s foundation, fill in any holes, and seal any cracks that are present.

Professional Norway rat control

For a professional solution to your rat problem, contact Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators. Our pest control technicians are licensed professionals who have trained extensively. They are well-versed in rodent control and are ready to help you get rid of Norway rats and other types of rodents in your home or business.