Where Rats Come From
WouterWhile it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly where rats come from, they are ubiquitous in urban and suburban areas. They require a constant water supply in order to survive, and they are very good swimmers. They can hold their breath for long periods and can tread water for up to three days. They can even swim up toilets to access their homes.
Like other animals, rats are constantly looking for food. Their poor eyesight makes it difficult for them to wander far, but even if pickings are scarce, they’ll use anything as a nest. This is how they end up in urban areas, where they are an even bigger problem. While rats don’t usually go far, they will kill each other for food.
In the past millennia, both black and brown rats came to Europe. The brown rat first arrived in Europe about a millennium after black rats. They left eastern Asia in 1727 AD and crossed the Volga, heading west across Russia. Some researchers speculate that this migration was triggered by an earthquake. As the species spread across the continent, the brown rat migrated westwards and ended up in England around the 1720s. In some cases, the rats were accidentally mislabeled as Norwegian ships.
In many cases, the problem is neighborhood-wide. If you’ve got a rat problem in your home, it’s a good idea to contact your neighbors and ask for their suggestions for treatment. In addition to these methods, you can also use human hair to kill rats.
