What do rats do in the house? - briefly
Rats chew wiring, insulation, food containers, and other household materials, spreading droppings and urine that contaminate surfaces and pose health hazards. Their rapid breeding leads to structural damage and increased risk of disease transmission.
What do rats do in the house? - in detail
Rats entering a residence seek food, shelter, and breeding sites. Their activities can be grouped into several functional categories.
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Foraging: They scavenge kitchen scraps, stored grains, pet food, and garbage. Nighttime raids on pantry shelves and countertops are common, leaving droppings and gnawed packaging as evidence.
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Nesting: Rats construct nests from shredded paper, fabric, insulation, and cardboard. Preferred locations include concealed spaces such as wall voids, attics, basements, and behind appliances. Nests provide warmth and a base for raising litters.
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Reproduction: After establishing a nest, a pair may produce multiple litters each year. Each litter can contain 6‑12 offspring, leading to rapid population growth if unchecked. Juveniles remain in the nest for several weeks before venturing out to explore the home.
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Gnawing: Constant tooth growth forces rodents to chew on a variety of materials. They damage woodwork, electrical wiring, plastic pipes, and furniture. This behavior creates fire hazards and compromises structural integrity.
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Pathway creation: Rats develop runways along walls, behind cabinets, and within ducts. These routes facilitate movement between food sources, water, and nesting sites, and they often leave behind urine trails that signal territory to other rodents.
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Contamination: Excreta and saliva introduce pathogens such as Salmonella, Leptospira, and Hantavirus. Contact with surfaces or consumption of contaminated food can lead to human illness.
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Noise production: Scratching, gnawing, and vocalizations generate audible disturbances, especially during nocturnal activity. These sounds may be heard through walls, ceilings, or floorboards.
Understanding these behaviors enables targeted inspection and control measures, reducing damage, health risks, and the likelihood of infestation expansion.