If you find stuff at your home like clothes or paper torn in an irregular pattern especially around the edges over a period of time, you know rats are at work. They can be very destructive and keep you on the toes if you allow them free access around the house. Rats are basically long-tailed rodents and belong to the superfamily Muroidea.

The ‘true rats’, however, are different from rodents in size and sometimes color as well. On the other hand, some species from the rodent family are also referred to as ‘rats’ because of the similarity in their characteristics with ‘true rats’. The latter can be distinguished from mice only by their size. There are different types of rats available. But the black and the brown rats are the most common. Rats can cause a number of serious diseases. Not only so rats can also introduce disease-carrying parasites like lice, fleas and ticks into your home. Some people, however, domesticate rats. These are generally fancy rats which are much more well behaved compared to the wild rats. Moreover, they also do not pose much health risks.

Threats from Rats

Rats can inflict more harm than it apparently appears. They contaminate everything in their path with urine, droppings and hair. Black rats are the chief carriers of ‘bubonic plague’, the most deadly manifestation of plague which can be either transmitted by direct contact with the rats themselves or through the bites of fleas who feed on them. Not only this, rats are also carriers of several other diseases and parasites that are detrimental to humans and animals. Some of the other diseases they are known to spread consist of Leptospirosis, or Weil's disease, Salmonella and Toxoplasmosis. Each one of them is a rare infection and is capable of causing severe health complications.

Last but not the least rats can also inflict considerable damage on properties including furniture, cables, walls, doors, cupboards, clothes and so on and so forth. They use their sharp teeth for gnawing at these objects and render them completely unusable.

Prevention Tips

• Seal all entry points like sewers, air vents etc.
  
• Plug all possible holes in the house because they can enter through a hole as small as a quarter (25¢) also.
• Try to hide all the wires and if you find that difficult, you can wrap them with towels duct tapes or use tubes around the wires. However, the best way to prevent them is to remove everything from the floor and install wiring around the ceiling.
  
• Keep woods at least 18 inches above the ground.
• Keep the lawns trimmed so that rats cannot turn them into their favorite hunting grounds.
  
• Cut the trees short and see to it that the branches which hang over the roofs are at least 3 feet away from the house.
  
• Make sure that the window screens are secure and in good shape.
• Never leave food out in the open because they attract the rats.
• Keeps the trashcans covered all the time
• Don’t leave the ventilation holes open
• Make sure the birdhouses are out of reach.
• Keep the backyard as well as the other surroundings of your home immaculately clean.