Roof Rats On Vancouver Island

Victoria with the widespread closure of restaurants and businesses due to the novel coronavirus pandemic b c s rodent populations are fleeing urban centres like rats from a sinking ship.

Roof rats on vancouver island.

The female can have up to 7 litters per year of 8 12 pups per litter. Rats the most common rats found native to b c on vancouver island is the norway rat and the black rat better known as the roof rat. Roof rats can be found throughout greater vancouver. Rats are not native to bc and were introduced via boat traffic in the mid 1800s.

The city of vancouver has a guide on how to identify a rat or mouse infestation including keeping an eye out for burrows noises droppings and chew marks. They support many ectoparasites and urinate on food. Because rats and mice are prolific breeders ignoring a problem can result in a much more damaging infestation. Story continues below.

They can chew on materials including insulation siding and wallboard. The norway rat rattus norvegicus and the roof rat rattus rattus. Consume and contaminate stored food and transmit diseases. The vancouver rat project collected 725 rats in the downtown eastside from september 2011 to august 2012 and tested them for diseases that could be transmitted to humans.

Roof rats this species is the most common on vancouver island. Gnaw on wiring and start an electrical fire. There are two types of rats in bc. They may be grey or black and they can grow to over 25 cm.

Norway rats unlike roof rats this larger species. Common rodents found in the vancouver area are the norway brown rat the roof black rat and the house mouse. To prevent rats from entering a home seal up any holes or cracks larger than a quarter. Roof rats secured their place in history by spreading the highly dangerous bubonic plague.

The best way to get rid of rats or mice is by using traps. The most common rodents in the vancouver area are the norway brown rat the roof black rat and the house mouse. Remove sources of moisture and harborage. Roof rat droppings are about 13 mm 1 2 inch long with pointed ends and norway rat droppings are about 19mm 3 4 inch long with blunt ends.

What kind of rats or mice do you have. As their name indicates roof rats are climbers that prefer roof spaces and attics. They damage homes and buildings by chewing on insulation and siding and only needs a quarter size hole to enter in.