Who kills rats? - briefly
Predators such as owls, hawks, snakes, and domestic cats commonly eliminate rodents. Humans also use traps and rodenticides to control their numbers.
Who kills rats? - in detail
Rats are eliminated by a range of natural predators and human‑implemented control measures.
Cats, especially feral and domestic hunting breeds, capture and kill rats by ambush and bite. Snakes, primarily constrictors and venomous species, seize rodents and subdue them with coils or toxin. Birds of prey, such as owls, hawks, and eagles, swoop on rats from above, delivering fatal strikes with talons. Small carnivorous mammals—ferrets, weasels, and stoats—pursue rats in burrows and surface habitats, using rapid attacks to kill.
Human interventions add several techniques:
- Mechanical traps: snap, cage, and glue devices that immobilize or crush the animal.
- Chemical rodenticides: anticoagulant or neurotoxic compounds administered in bait form, causing internal bleeding or paralysis.
- Biological control: placement of owl boxes, introduction of predatory birds, or use of feral cats in specific settings.
- Environmental management: sealing entry points, reducing food sources, and maintaining clean waste disposal to limit rat survival.
Each method targets different rat behaviors and habitats, combining to reduce populations effectively.