How Norway Rats Invade Kentucky Homes

Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) are burrowing rodents capable of squeezing through ¾ inch gaps. Their incisors grow continuously, allowing them to gnaw through wood, plastic pipe, and even soft metals to get into your home. This makes them especially important to homeowners since flooding and fires can result from their gnawing habits.

Being nocturnal and with poor eyesight, they will feel their way through various access points, lured in by warmth and food odors. They will typically enter through loose crawlspace vents, gaps under garage doors, vents, and openings around gas, cable, and HVAC lines. In more urban areas, they may also rise from below through broken sewer laterals and floor drains.

Suppose you’re looking to mitigate the risk of infestation. In that case, it’s best to seal potential entry points, never leave doors or windows ajar, clean up any food or trash that might attract Norway Rats, and maintain a clean living space both inside and outside. In this way, you can reduce the likelihood of your home becoming a place rats are drawn to.

If you’re worried you may have an infestation, it’s essential to look out for common signs, including gnaw marks on wires, doors, windows, or packaging. Capsule-shaped, dark-colored, 3/4 inch long droppings with blunt ends, grease marks around baseboards or potential access points, and scratching sounds, especially at night, are also tell-tale signs. Additionally, you may find nests in crawl spaces or basements.

If you have or are worried about an infestation, be sure to contact Kentucky’s number one pest control service, Four Seasons Pest Solutions, to protect yourself from the damage and disease associated with the Norway Rat. Find out why everyone says, “It’s good to have Four Seasons on your side!”