Where Can Rats Come From?
WouterRats are members of a large family of rodents that are found throughout the world, except Antarctica. They are considered pests by many people due to their ability to spread disease, destroy property, and generally be a nuisance. There are many species of rat, making it difficult to determine where they came from. Fortunately, there are some ways to keep rats from making your home their new home.
First, check for droppings. Mice will leave behind small, smooth-edged droppings, and rats will leave larger, thicker droppings. Usually, droppings from rats are about 12mm long, unlike mice’s six-mm long droppings. Look for droppings near the rat’s food sources, which will be close to their shelter and runways.
Rats first appeared in Southeast Asia about 200,000 years ago, and spread through Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia. A few centuries later, brown rats arrived in Europe. These rats adapted to living in urban areas, and thrived on human waste and food scraps. The silk road played a large role in spreading rats throughout the world.
Rats are social creatures and establish territories. The dominant male in a group is aggressive and will prevent other males from mating. Female rats will defend their territory and build nests out of various materials. Rats are nocturnal by nature, but they will breed year-round if food and shelter is plentiful. Female rats begin breeding when they reach 40-45 days old.
