Rats are found all over the world, and there are more than 60 species of rats that coexist with humans on this planet. In Canada, there are a few common species that are known to infest houses and business establishments. These species are the bushy-tailed woodrat (Neotoma cinerea), Eurasian black rat (Rattus rattus) and Norway or brown rat (Rattus norvegicus).
Black Rat: Black rats are smaller than brown rats. They are commonly found in the coastal towns of BC. They are good climbers, and you can see them on lofts and roofs of houses or buildings. Black rats are omnivorous, and they can transmit diseases to humans. They attack homes and can damage properties.
Brown Rat: Brown rats are bigger than black rats. Unlike black rats, brown rats prefer burrowing and ground living. You can find brown rats in every region of Canada. Similar to black rats, they are omnivorous and considered pests that harm homes and businesses. They can also transmit diseases, which is detrimental to humans.
Bushy-tailed Woodrat: The bushy-tailed woodrats are also known as “packrats” are one of the largest and most common woodrats. They are primarily vegetarian in nature and active all year round but mostly nocturnal. They are called packrats because they tend to accumulate food, debris, small objects like jewelry, can tabs and other small things near or on their dens. They also gnaw on wires, shred furniture at homes and transmit harmful diseases to humans.
Knowing the type of rat that invades your home or buildings can help you identify the problem and help control it. Nevertheless, if rat infestation is out of control, you need to seek professional help from a pest control team in your area. Contact us at Advantage Pest Control to help you get rid of rats in Toronto.
-Paolo Bossio
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