Rats are among the most widespread and adaptable mammals on the planet. Found on every continent except Antarctica, these rodents have lived alongside humans for thousands of years. Despite their bad reputation as pests and carriers of disease, rats are complex, intelligent animals that play important ecological roles and have even contributed to scientific advancement.
Understanding rats requires looking past their negative image and exploring the reality of their biology, behaviour, and relationship with humans.
Biological and Behaviourial Characteristics
The most commonly known rat species are the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) and the black rat (Rattus rattus). Both are highly adaptable omnivores with sharp teeth, excellent agility, and a strong survival instinct. They can live in urban, suburban, and rural environments, and are known for their ability to squeeze through small spaces, climb walls, and even swim.
Rats are social creatures that live in hierarchical groups and communicate using a variety of vocalizations and body language. They are also highly intelligent—capable of learning from experience, solving puzzles, and remembering routes through mazes. This intelligence, combined with their fast reproductive cycle which makes them resilient survivors.
Disease & Urban Infestations
Rats have long been associated with disease. Most notoriously, they are linked to the spread of the bubonic plague in the 14th century, although modern studies suggest that fleas carried by rats, rather than the rats themselves, were the main cause. In urban environments, rats can contaminate food, damage infrastructure, damage wiring, and contribute to the spread of illnesses such as leptospirosis and salmonella.
Their presence in cities is often a symptom of poor waste management and deteriorating infrastructure. Urban rats thrive in sewers, alleys, and abandoned buildings, feeding on garbage and reproducing quickly. Controlling rat populations requires not just extermination but also addressing the environmental conditions that allow them to thrive.
Areas we cover
Based in Ware, Hertfordshire, we are on hand to deal with your rat control problems across East Hertfordshire, covering the towns of Hertford, Stevenage, Hitchin, Buntingford, Royston & Cheshunt.