Rats

Size: 12–18 inches (including tail)
Colour: Brown, grey, or black

Rats are one of the most destructive and persistent rodent pests found throughout Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. The two most common species are the Norway rat and the roof rat. Norway rats typically burrow underground and are often found around foundations, crawl spaces, and sewers, while roof rats are excellent climbers and are commonly found in attics, roofs, trees, and overhead utility lines.

Rats are highly intelligent, reproduce quickly, and are capable of entering buildings through surprisingly small openings. Once inside, they seek out food, water, and sheltered nesting areas, making homes, restaurants, warehouses, offices, and commercial facilities ideal environments.

In addition to contaminating food and surfaces with droppings and urine, rats can spread disease, introduce parasites such as fleas and mites, and cause significant property damage by chewing electrical wiring, insulation, plumbing, and structural materials. Their constant gnawing can also increase the risk of electrical fires.

Because rat infestations can grow rapidly, effective control requires more than simply placing traps or bait. At PreventX, we use an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach that includes a comprehensive inspection, targeted treatments, exclusion recommendations to help seal entry points, and ongoing monitoring to eliminate infestations and reduce the risk of future activity.