What Does Rat Poop Look Like?
Rats or rodents are one of the most common pests in the world. Rats belong to the order Rodentia and the family Muridae, with more than 60 rat species. Their sizes depend on the species but typically range from about 5 inches.
Rats are generally nocturnal animals and usually come out to forage for food at night. Rats are omnivorous creatures, and they will eat almost anything they can find. Rats are known to carry many diseases that can harm humans, including the bubonic plague, typhus, and leptospirosis.
Rats generally produce a lot of droppings. But what does rat poop look like? Where do we usually find them? In this blog post, we will take a close look at rat droppings and tackle some tips on how to get rid of them.
What Does Rat Poop Look Like?
Like any other infestation, rat dropping or rat poops can be a good indicator that you have a rat problem. Rat droppings are usually small, shiny black, and cylindrical. Their size ranges from 1/2- 3/4 of an inch long. The surface of the dropping is smooth, but it may have ridges on one end or be slightly pointy. We commonly find rat droppings near where the rats live or feed, like in cupboards, drawers, pantries, and under the sink.
They are also known to have a strong and pungent smell. If you have a rat problem, it is best to call a pest control professional to get rid of the pests and properly clean the area to avoid any health hazards.
Is Rat Poop Dangerous?
As we all know, rats are one of the most common pests in the world. They are known to carry several diseases that can be harmful to humans. Also, rat droppings cause many human diseases, some of which can even be fatal.
Some of the diseases are:
- Leptospirosis-This is a bacterial disease that can be spread through contact with rat urine or droppings. Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, and muscle aches. In severe cases, it can lead to kidney failure or even death.
- Salmonellosis-This is a bacterial infection caused by consuming food or water contaminated with rat droppings. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, and fever.
- Hantavirus-Not all species of rats carry this virus. Rats in the wild, like deer mice, white-footed mice, and rice rats, are usually carriers of hantavirus and spread to humans through contact with rat urine or droppings. Early symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, it can lead to another respiratory disease known as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), which can be fatal.
Dried dropping can also be harmful as they can release harmful particles into the air, which can be inhaled by humans and lead to allergic reactions and respiratory problems.
How to Get Rid of Rat Droppings?
Rat droppings can harm humans, so we should clean them up as soon as possible. Here are some tips on how to get rid of rat droppings:
- Wear gloves and a mask when cleaning up rat droppings to avoid any contact with the bacteria or viruses they may contain.
- Spray droppings with a bleach solution or disinfectant before cleaning them up.
- Use a paper towel or disposable wipes to pick up droppings and throw them away in a sealed bag.
- Thoroughly clean the area where you find the droppings using hot water and soap.
- If the area is large, you may need to hire a professional cleaning company to properly clean and disinfect the area.
Rat droppings can harm humans and should be cleaned up as soon as possible. Following the tips above, you can safely and effectively eliminate rat droppings. However, if you have a rat problem, it is best to call a pest control professional to get rid of the pests and properly clean the area to avoid any health hazards.
How to get rid of a rat?
When there is a rat dropping, it is an indication that there are rats present. If you have a rat problem, it is best to call a pest control professional like Thrive Pest Control to get rid of the pests and properly clean the area to avoid any health hazards.
Our professional technicians will be able to identify the type of rat present and come up with a treatment plan to get rid of the rats. This may include setting up traps, baits, and/or poison to kill the rats. We will also be able to advise on how to prevent rats from coming back in the future.