Did you know that rats are so strong they can even gnaw through concrete? Moreover, they have been responsible for spreading terrible epidemics throughout history. Although they appear small and harmless, these pests can pose both health risks and significant damage to homes and businesses.
What you need to know about rats
Rats are rodents that are found almost everywhere in the world. In Romania, the most common are the gray rat and the black rat. Although sizes vary, generally a rat is between 10 and 25 cm (excluding the tail) and can weigh between 100 and 500 grams. Their fur can have shades of gray, brown or black, adapted to the environment they live in.
An impressive thing about them is their reproduction speed. A female can become pregnant immediately after giving birth, and the offspring reach sexual maturity in just six weeks. This means that a small problem can quickly turn into a real infestation.
Rats are more active at night and eat almost anything. From cereals and food scraps to garbage or pet food, nothing escapes them. Moreover, they are very intelligent and have an extremely developed sense of smell, which makes them difficult to catch with ordinary traps.
Health hazards
Rats are not just pests that damage things around the house, but they can also be carriers of quite serious diseases. They can transmit diseases in several ways:
Through direct contact: If they bite or scratch you, they can transmit bacteria or viruses.
Food and water contamination: Their feces and urine can contaminate food or water, causing serious infections.
Through contaminated air: Breathing particles from their droppings can lead to respiratory problems.
Through vectors: Fleas and other insects that live on rats can bite you and transmit diseases.
Diseases transmitted by rats
Leptospirosis: It is contracted through contact with infected rat urine and can cause problems ranging from fever to kidney failure.
