How Strong is a Rat Bite?

Rats have jaws that are one of the strongest of any rodent or other species. Some estimates say the jaw muscles can exert up to 6,000 pounds of force per square inch. This is much stronger than the force an adult human bites, which is around 70 pounds per square inch. Rats’ bite strength is much higher than that of a hippo, which can deliver only around 1,800 pounds of force per square inch. Rats can also gnaw through materials that are more than 100 g in weight.

Rats are naturally nocturnal creatures, but they can bite if they feel threatened, are in pain, or are uncomfortable. The bite is accompanied by redness, swelling, and pain, and a weeping, pus-filled wound. In addition, rat bites can lead to bacterial infections.

The biting force of rats, pocket gophers, and gray squirrels was measured with a force transducer. Rats, pocket gophers, and gray squirrels can bite with up to three pounds of pressure. The researchers were able to measure the pressure on the biting surfaces of these animals under a microscope and extrapolated the amount of force each one could exert.

If you think you have been bitten by a rat, get yourself to a hospital right away. The infection can be extremely dangerous and lead to other complications. Regardless of the type of rat bite, it’s important to seek medical attention if you notice symptoms. You may have a severe infection called rat bite fever (RBF).

Continue reading:

Is Rat Meat Safe to Eat? Is Keeping Rats As Pets Illegal in Alberta? Why Does a Rat Squeak? Which City Has the Biggest Rats? Which Rats Detect Omicron? Where Did Rats Originally Come From? What Does it Mean When Rats Lick You? What Should You Feed Rats?