Although the rate at which rats reproduce is alarming, multiple variables work together to keep a population from spinning out of control. A pair of rats might theoretically create about half a billion descendants in just three years, but this would never happen in practice. It is true that if a rat infestation is ignored, it may quickly get out of hand. However, there are simply too many factors limiting the number, such as a lack of food, shelter, sickness, natural predation, in-fighting, and, of course, pest management. Most people would be surprised to learn about rats’ high rate of reproduction. However, it is for this reason that pest management professionals have always stressed the need for the prevention and early detection of rat infestations.
It’s not surprising to hear about expanding rat populations or rat explosions in cities such as Toronto. Not only are there more of these destructive rodents, but they’re also spreading into places where they weren’t previously plentiful. Rat numbers are sometimes blamed on good weather and environmental circumstances. On the other hand, they do not require any more assistance from Mother Nature to grow their numbers. Human environments can assist them in the same way. Rats achieve sexual maturity after nine weeks, suggesting that a population may increase from two rats to roughly 1,250 rats in a year, with the potential to grow exponentially. A female rat normally has six litters a year, each containing up to 12 rat pups, though 5-10 pups are more frequent.
Single Rat is Not Likely
Chances are that there are many more in your house, attic, or walls. Finding a rat in your house can be quite upsetting, but you must be realistic about the situation to cope with it. Rats are gregarious creatures by nature, and they reproduce fast, so if you see one, there’s a good probability you’ve got more. If you’re lucky, you’ll just have one rat on your land or in your home. Take a deeper look at the habits of this rodent, as described below, to understand why you’re likely to have more than one rat. If you want to permanently solve a rat problem, you can do so. First, determine the scope of your problem by looking for indicators of rat damage in the house and attic.
Rats Are Amiable Creatures
Rats, on the whole, like to live in groupings known as packs. A male and female rat form the nucleus of the pack, which will increase over time. In some packs, there is just one dominant male with many females, whereas, in others, there are multiple dominant males in a single group. In luck, you have simply one or two rats that are starting their group. However, it’s much more probable that you’ll have a full pack and would need to prepare for a larger group.
Dealing with a single rat is similar to dealing with a bigger population but on a smaller scale. Because rats multiply so readily, most experts believe that snap traps are the best way to deal with them. These will quickly kill the rat, making them a compassionate and effective solution. However, unless you’re quite certain you just have one rat, you shouldn’t set just one trap. Experts always recommend setting up to at least a dozen traps since this assures you to catch the most rats possible on the first try. After the initial catch, you’ll want to re-set the traps.
What if there’s more?
There is only one way to know how many rats are present, setting up traps. You can only be sure that there are no more rats if traps no longer catch, and the bait is undisturbed. Other indicators that you’re rat free is if the noises cease and obviously, you no longer see any rats and their droppings. You may also engage a wildlife specialist to fix the problem for you, but they won’t know how many rats there are until they catch them or find evidence in their wake. Even so, hiring a pro is the best method to ensure that you catch all of the rats on the first go. Remember that even missing one or two rats might result in a recurring problem, since these rodents reproduce swiftly.
Summary
Rats primarily exist to forage and mate. Although most rats are nocturnal, the brown rat may be seen active at any time of day or night.
Rats frequently congregate in groups known as packs. When a male and female go off on their own and nest in an area where there isn’t currently a pack, a new pack is created. Brown rats are often led by the pack’s biggest male. Other rats’ packs may have numerous dominant males or females. You should call the experts if you want effective removal of these pests.
