Rat Facts & Information
Rats can not only spread disease and bacteria, but they can do serious reputational damage.
RATS ARE A RISK IN ALL INDUSTRIES
Rats are opportunistic feeders. They will feed on just about anything including decaying carcasses. So, not only will rats be attracted to your business for the food and water it may have, but if harborage and conducive conditions have not been cleaned up, they will be more deeply imbedded.
They’re able to squeeze through a hole about the size of a quarter. And if there are loading docks or doors that are frequently open, rats can easily get in. Once inside, they will take advantage of opportunities including food sources, garbage areas, spills, and more. All of this is available in any industry, and especially food processing and handling facilities.
Controlling rats is not optional. It’s a public health and safety necessity. Who you choose to partner with to take care of rats is the key. Knowledgeable experts are needed to manage rats. That’s IFC.
What Do Rats Look Like?
Norway Rat
Coarse brown fur and large size. Adults can weigh about 1/2 to 1 pound. Small ears and short tail covered in scaly skin.
Roof Rats
Cotton Rats
Norway Rat
They can reach lengths of 15 inches, and their tails alone can measure 8 inches. They are large rodents that can weigh more than a pound.
Norway rats have fur that is brown or gray in color.
They are covered in shaggy fur. Their ears and tails are covered in scales, and their tails are shorter than their head and body.
Roof Rat
These rats can be over a foot long.
Roof rats can be black or brown and smooth fur with hairless, scaly tails that are longer than their heads and bodies.
These rodents have long tails, large ears and eyes, and pointed noses.
Cotton Rat
The head and body of these pests range in length from 5 to 8 inches. Their tails can be anywhere from 2-6 inches in length.
Cotton rats are usually gray on their back with black hairs mixed in. Their undersides are light in color.
Their bodies are covered with coarse hair. Their ears are almost hidden by the hair and their tails are bare with no fur.
WHY RAT CONTROL
WHY RAT CONTROL IS IMPORTANT
- Health Risks – Rats are notoriously disgusting. Rat bites and scratches can result in diseases and rat-bite fever. Rat urine is responsible for the spread of leptospirosis, which can result in liver and kidney damage. Besides the negative reviews that will inevitably come from rats in your business, they are known to indirectly or directly transmit 35 diseases including salmonellosis, typhus, Hantavirus, and even the plague.
- Building and Equipment Damage – Rats’ teeth are constantly growing, which is why they always seem to be gnawing on something. And they don’t discriminate. They will chew on cardboard, wood, drywall, plastic, rubber, vinyl, and even soft metals like aluminum, copper, and lead. They will also chew on electrical wires mistaking them for grass and stems. That chewing can cause electrical issues and even lead to electric fires.
- Clean-up Costs – Rat droppings, dander, and shed hair can cause people to sneeze and experience other allergic reactions and can even induce asthma attacks. They leave greasy rub marks on walls and moulding and cleaning up their dropping incorrectly can introduce bacteria into the air making guests and employees sick, making clean up by professionals a necessity for this pest.
- Audit Flags – Rats, their droppings, and even just evidence of them can raise all sorts of audit red flags and even cause you to fail audits entirely.
HOW IFC CAN HELP WITH RAT CONTROL:
- General Fumigation
- Spot Fumigation
- Railcar, Trailer & Container Fumigation
- Grain Bin, Flat Storage & Vertical Storage Fumigation
- Ship & Barge Fumigation
- Tarpaulin & Bunker Fumigation
IFC PROVIDES:
- Safe and effective solutions
- Integrated Pest Management
- Exclusion strategies
- Expert workmanship
- Guaranteed results
FAQs About Rats
Q. How do I know if my business has a rat problem?
A. Common signs include rat droppings, gnaw marks, scratching or scurrying sounds, grease marks along walls, damaged packaging, and sightings of live or dead rats. In commercial facilities, employees may also notice unusual odors or evidence of activity in storage, kitchen, loading dock, or waste areas.
Q. What attracts rats to commercial properties?
A. Rats are attracted to accessible food, water, and shelter. Restaurants, food-processing facilities, warehouses, and other businesses can be especially vulnerable because of food products, garbage, dumpsters, standing water, clutter, and structural gaps that provide easy access and hiding places.
Q. How quickly can a commercial rat infestation get out of control?
A. Rats reproduce quickly, so even a small amount of activity can become a significant infestation if it isn’t addressed. Early detection and ongoing monitoring are important for catching activity before it affects employees, customers, inventory, or your facility’s reputation.
Q.Why should I use professional commercial rat control?
A. Professional pest control providers can identify where rats are entering and nesting, determine the extent of the activity, and develop a customized control and monitoring program. Ongoing service can also help prevent future infestations and provide documentation that supports your facility’s sanitation and pest management requirements.
RAT Control RESOURCES
Outside Influences: Designing the Exterior of Your Facility to Keep Pests Away
When a visitor arrives at your food processing facility, they probably have to check in, and maybe even get a name tag. Unfortunately, pests don’t do the same. That’s why food processing professionals have to be incredibly vigilant—because without notice or warning,...
Food Processing Pest Management: Cool Off Your Hot Spots
Your food processing facility relies on safe products, a clean reputation and high audit scores to be successful. But pests can threaten everything your facility has, including its bottom line. Hot spots – areas conducive to pest activity – are everywhere, and...
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