Roof Rats And Disease Edu

The body is 6 1 2 to 8 inches long and weighs between 6 and 12 ounces.

Roof rats and disease edu.

2 often is called the black rat. Table 1 provides a brief description of the physical similarities and differences among these rodents. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome hps. Plague is a disease that both roof and norway rats can carry but in california it is more commonly associated with ground squirrels chipmunks and native woodrats.

The roof rat has large ears and a pointed nose. This is a deadly disease transmitted by infected rodents through urine droppings or saliva. A roof rat noses around a rodent bait station on kiawah island in august 2020. Historically infected fleas have transmitted serious plagues from rats to humans.

The sleek black roof rat is one of the most common species of rats in the united states. The roof rat can appear similar to the norway rat native arizona pack rat neotoma. While casual observations of roof rats or native rats can. Eric benson clemson university clemson dogs may be man s best friend but rats have been his.

They can transmit these diseases through physical contact bites by contamination or by fleas that are feeding on the rodent. The roof rat primarily occupies the coastal areas of washington oregon and california as well as a larger area along the gulf and atlantic coast states from texas to maryland. Its color varies from black to brownish gray and the underside varies from gray to white. Roof rats can be carriers of diseases.

Bubonic plague was a scourge in europe several times throughout history. For pest management professionals and environmental health professionals. Types of roof rat diseases. Ecology of roof rats and native rats.

These pests cause significant damage through their gnawing nesting and burrowing habits. Gouge paula rivadeneira and shujuan lucy li. Among the diseases rats can transmit to humans or livestock are murine typhus leptospirosis salmonellosis food poisoning and ratbite fever. However roof rat diseases are the most serious concern for people and pets.

Spp or cotton rat sigmodon arizonae. Diseases caused by rats rat droppings rat urine and rat saliva. The roof rat figures 1 4. The roof rat rattus rattus fig.

Hps was first recognized in 1993 and although rare hps is potentially deadly. The eyes are large and prominent. Humans can contract the disease when they breathe in aerosolized virus. Tiguous 50 states although the norway rat may be absent from some relatively large geographic areas of the west.