Rat information below! So we had rats on year two of living on the farm in the big barn, it was a challenge to remove them but with traps, bait and my hunting farm cats we were able to bring the population down and out. I have always know that there might be a rat or two in the area, but when you never see a burrow or find a dead rat.. I  was happy.. over the years I have seen a rat tail or two on the smaller size left by the hunting farm cats.

Then this was found left by the cats under my picnic table, the issue with this that its a BIG male.. this set off alarm bells to say the least.. where there is a male this big, there must be females as well.  Then we lost a duckling, gone.. then we had some chicks killed, we moved them into even more careful smaller more protected placing in the Croft and then we lost more ducklings.. Grrr..   We set live trap baited with a chick body that had been killed the night before, I expected a weasel or coon to be honest.. I didn’t expect another BIG male rat.

I have not seen any rats in the day time, I have not seen any rats in the evening but they must be there! The war is on! Ah.. I hate rats.. more traps coming soon and I must find their nests! I know there must be females with pups somewhere. I did hear from a fellow farmer that they are also having issues with rats this year locally just up the road.  

Have you ever had a issue with rats? What is your favorite rat trap? I do not want to use poison on the farm, I am willing to do live trap, glue traps, snap traps and so forth. Ideally I want to help create a good hunting area for my farm cats. 

The Norway Rat , (Rattus norvegicus) is also called sewer rat, brown rat, water rat, wharf rat, and gray rat.  As an adult, the Norway Rat can weigh between 12-16 oz. with a body length of 6-8 inches long. The nose is blunt with small ears, and small eyes. Its fur is shaggy and coarse with variation in colors. The tail of the Norway rat is shorter than the head and body combined, and scale-like.

Norway Rats will leave a mark as they drag their tails between their feet. Using unscented baby powder or flour can be dusted in areas of suspected activity. Lightly use the powder in these areas. Norway Rats can leave gnarled hole about 2 inches in diameter. The holes have rough edges. Their preference is to gnaw on wood but will gnaw on electrical wiring causing damage. Rat burrows can be found along foundations, or beneath rubbish and shrubbery. If the burrow is active it usually clear of vegetation. Rat runways are smooth and well packed. Indoors, these runways are free of dust and dirt.

Norway Rats will eat a lot of types of food but prefer proteins and carbohydrates. Food items from a house-hold garbage can provide these rats with a balanced diet. They will eat meats, fish, cereal grains, livestock feed and fresh fruits. Norway rats that live outside may feed outside or enter buildings at night daily for food and return to their outside habitat burrows after feeding. These rats will kill and eat various small reptiles, mammals, birds and insects.

Norway Rats Habits and Biology

The mating and gestation period is about 22 days. Female pups reach sexual maturity in 2-3 months with an average of 8-12 pups per litter and 4-7 litters a year. The young rats are naked and blind at birth, with their eyes opening in about 9-14 days. Adults live about a year and prefer to live in colonies. They may breed all year long, but breeding peaks in the spring and fall of the year. Breeding will decrease during hot summers or cold winters for outside colonies. The average rat lives in Burrows

The Norway rat prefers to live in underground tunnels or burrows. New rat populations have short (between 12-20 inches long)of burrows, but as the population grows and they mature, the burrows are enlarged. They can have many burrows interconnected, forming a network of underground tunnels. These ground burrows usually have one central opening that they use for an entrance or exit, and a couple of holes that are used for escaping. Several distinct rat families may use the same runway and the same food and water sources, sharing an extensive burrow system.

As the rat population increases and if food/water sources are limited, fighting will begin as they defend territories. These fights will result in dominant rats that are the first to feed. Rats prefer to feed at night and are mostly nocturnal. The subordinate rats are forced to reside in a section of the burrow that is further from the food/water sources. These subordinate rats will feed and be active when the primary dominant rats are not active. That is why you may see rats during the day time, which indicates a large population.

When using rodent baits in burrows and outside, the dominant rats are often killed first, with bait shyness developing in a few “smart” rats. As with other rats, Norway rats are suspicious of changes in the environment. This suspicion makes baiting or trapping a little tricky. It may take a few days of undisturbed bait or traps to be trusted enough for them to approach them. See rat baiting tips while using bait stations..

Nests and Territories

They can be found near food sources such as barns, granaries, silos, and livestock if found on farms. If found in urban areas, they can be found in the ground in yards or any available ground space. In most cases, they will be found in underground tunnels but may also live inside buildings their whole lives. Norway Rats can enter homes during the night, seeking food, then return to burrows. If found inside, Norway Rats usually are found nesting in crawl spaces and basements, but may be found in attics and ceiling areas if the population is large.

These rats range from 50-150 feet from their nests. Under duress these rats can travel up to 300 feet daily to obtain food and water.

The Norway rat’s nest may be built from a soft material such as paper or grass. If necessary, the Norway rat will climb a structure to enter a building. The Norway rat is also an excellent swimmer.

Expect most Norway rat activity during the night. Their peak times are either just before dawn or at dusk. If their population is large or if they are disturbed, you can detect activity during the day.

Information on these rats thanks to Do it yourself Pest Control.