A rat king is a collection of rats bound together, typically by their tails or a sticky substance; this event is quite common in rat control. Gum, tree sap, or a mixture of solidified substances that have frozen their tails together during the winter can lead to a rat king. Rats in Anaheim quickly reproduce, and with such long tails and crowded nests, this event can happen naturally. Once the rats realize that they are bound together, they may struggle and create a tighter knot. This event is quite common in rat control.
What Leads To A Rat King?
One of the greatest contributors to a rat king is how quickly rats reproduce. While a rat’s lifespan is only a year, they reach maturity after about a month, and females can give birth to a litter in as little as 21 days after that. Each litter consists of between 5 – 12 pups, giving rats the potential to grow exponentially in a short amount of time. A female can have up to 7 litters in her lifetime, which means up to 84 pups. To put this in perspective, a rat population can grow from just two rats to over 1,000 within only one year!
Rats tend to create nests within confined spaces such as attics, lofts, under eaves, and within cavity walls. They also have long tails between 3 – 9 inches in length. With many rats in smaller spaces, some tails could get tangled. Some theories also suggest that healthier rats will purposely attach themselves to weaker rats to build their nest.
How To Tell If You Have A Rat King
Once a rat king exists, it becomes difficult for the rats to survive, and they often die. The collection of rats will begin to decay, creating a strong odor that you will notice.
Other indicators that you have a rat infestation include:
- Scurrying or squeaking sounds coming from the walls
- Soft footsteps or running sounds usually at night
- Piles of droppings left in an attic, basement, or on the ground
- Finding gnawed food packages, wooden spoons, or food containers
- Marks that look like dirt or grease rubbed onto walls, cabinets, or furniture
- Seeing their nest made up of soft materials like shredded paper or furniture stuffing
- Disturbed insulation or chewed ducts
Rat infestation signs are similar to what you may experience with other rodents such as mice or squirrels. If you’re unsure about which pest might be inside of your home or business, please call the experts at A-1 Bonded Termite today for your inspection. We specialize in rodent control and extermination. You can also visit our pest library to help identify which pest may be inside.
Rat Droppings
Droppings are among the most apparent signs that rats are around. While your first instinct might be to remove them once found, please remember to call a professional or take serious precautions. Rat droppings can spread disease through contact or even breathing the smallest particles during removal.
If you find signs of rodents near your home or business, it is best to call a professional pest control company such as A-1 Bonded Termite. We will safely inspect your property and remove rodents and any signs of activity. If you choose to clean up after rats or other rodents, treat all droppings or rodent materials as if they have a disease. It is necessary to use professional safety measures and removal methods for a substantial amount of rodent droppings.
Rat Infestations
Rats spread many different diseases and can contaminate food in a variety of different ways. Some diseases include hantaviruses, jaundice, plague, rat-bite fever, trichinosis, cowpox virus, and salmonellosis. Rats may also introduce fleas into a home. Additionally, rats can cause costly damage to walls, ceilings, floors, electrical wires, pipes, and ducts. Since rats like to burrow and constantly gnaw, the damage that they cause is usually out of sight and hidden behind walls or within spaces that you don’t commonly use. They can chew through just about anything, including plastic or lead pipes! Rats typically enter buildings in the fall to seek warmth, food, and water.
Since rats multiply so quickly, you should have a professional inspect for rats and exterminate them immediately. The smallest hint that rats are inside your home or business could lead to a large infestation within just a few months.
Rat King Extermination
A-1 Bonded Termite specializes in rat control, including rat kings. Call us today to schedule an inspection or to learn more about Anaheim home pest treatments and commercial extermination services.