Black rat (Rattus rattus)

Size:

• Head-body length: 16 – 24 cm
• Tail length: 17 - 28 cm
• Weight: 75 - 250 g

Look:

• Coat color: Light to dark grey, significantly lighter on the underside
• Tail: Thin and longer than the body
• Ears: Relatively large, but hairless ears
• Snout: Pointed

Life cycle:

• Reproduction: Possible from 40-50 days of age, all year round.
• Gestation period: ~21 days
• Litter size: 5 - 10 pups
• Lifespan: 12 - 24 months

Habitat:

• Rather rare in Switzerland, found primarily in rural areas. Mostly farms and warehouses.

Nutrition:

• Omnivores: Eat all kinds of food and prefer a plant-based diet
• Fluids: Fluid intake does not need to be daily.

Behave:

• Social: Lives in groups with a clear hierarchy
• Neophobia: The house rat is extremely distrustful
• Pest characteristics: Contaminates foodstuffs through feces, urine, and hair. Causes damage by gnawing on cables, wood, and other materials.

Driven:

• Aggressive behavior: Rarely attacks people, but can become aggressive when threatened or cornered.
• Damage: Can cause significant damage by gnawing on buildings, electrical cables, and supplies.

Disease transmission:

• Carriers of pathogens such as cholera, hantavirus, leptospirosis, plague bacteria, dysentery, salmonella and trichinosis

Food:

• Store food and drinks safely and check storage areas regularly.
• Dispose of food scraps and waste in sealable containers.

Hygiene:

• Do not leave open garbage cans or bags.
• Regular cleaning of surfaces and rooms

House and garden:

• Seal cracks, crevices and possible access points (>12mm) on houses.
• Consult a pest control expert for comprehensive advice.

Behave:

• Use traps and baits only in consultation with pest control professionals. Do not handle the animals directly without protective measures.

Garden maintenance:

• Regularly collect fallen fruit in the garden.
• Store compost heaps far away from the building