Norway Rat

What it looks like

• Large, heavy-bodied (7-10" not counting tail)
• Blunt nose, small ears relative to head
• Tail shorter than body, thick and dark
• Brown to gray fur, pale belly

Where you'll find it

• Burrows in soil along foundations, near garbage areas, and along waterways
• Sewer systems and storm drains
• Dumpsters and trash collection areas
• Basements, crawl spaces, and ground-floor rooms (rarely climb to upper floors)

Behavior & biology

Norway rats are ground-dwelling burrowers. They live in colonies of 20–60 individuals organized around a dominant male and female. A female produces 4–7 litters per year, 6–12 young per litter — a colony can reach 200+ individuals in a season. They prefer protein and fat (garbage, pet food) over grains. They navigate by touch along walls and in burrows. Norway rats commonly nest near water and travel established routes nightly.

Iowa activity calendar

Signs of an infestation

• Burrow openings (2-4" diameter) in soil along foundations or near trash
• Greasy rub marks along walls about 6" off the floor
• Large droppings (3/4" long, capsule-shaped, blunt ends)
• Gnaw marks on pet food bins, electrical conduit, and door bottoms
• Rat sightings near dumpsters at dusk

Health & property risk

Norway rats carry leptospirosis, salmonella, and (historically) plague-related pathogens. They cause structural damage gnawing through wood, drywall, and electrical insulation — fire risk is real. They contaminate stored food in commercial settings and cause major losses in restaurants and grain operations.

How we treat it

1. 1

   Burrow inspection + mapping

   We locate every active burrow on the property — old burrows look identical but inactive ones don't need treatment.

2. 2

   Snap traps + tamper-resistant bait stations

   Heavy-duty rat snap traps inside protected enclosures, plus tamper-resistant exterior bait stations along travel routes.

3. 3

   Burrow baiting

   Direct burrow baiting with restricted-use product accelerates colony collapse — only available to licensed applicators.

4. 4

   Exclusion + sanitation

   Sealing gaps over 1/2", removing harborage (clutter, woodpiles, overgrown vegetation), and addressing the food source (dumpsters, pet food) breaks the cycle.

Why DIY usually fails

Snap traps work for individual rats but rarely break a colony. Most over-the-counter rat poisons are too weak for a serious infestation. Commercial-grade bait + tamper-resistant stations are the standard.

FAQ