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本帖最后由 billzhao 于 2018-11-27 11:42 编辑 4 n# t1 [- r0 J4 h% F* C
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# N8 M% l- q4 n, j0 LWhy the Difference Between Rats and Mice Matters?
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Besides the fact that rats and mice look different, there are quite a few other differences between them. Your rodent control efforts will be most successful when you understand each of these pests fully. Knowing things like their behavior, food preferences, and habitats will help aid your control efforts. What works to control mice will not necessarily work to control rats.
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) i4 C7 f+ |2 G. ?% rThe most common rat and mouse pest in Canada are the Norway rat, the roof rat, and the house mouse. Small mousetraps that work for mice won't work for large rats. Rat traps set on the floor won't capture roof rats who tend to stay up high.# d( p0 C, [) R
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Mouse vs. Rat Behavior: m5 s) E2 l1 N& A# l! ?; _" a
One of the most important differences in behavior between mice and rats is that mice are curious and rats are cautious:
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Rats are very careful and will choose to avoid new things in their path until they have had time to get used to them being there. Because of this, you need to place unset traps in the rat's path before putting set rat traps there.
+ c6 G3 |7 r. `7 g0 T3 kMice, on the other hand, are very curious and will investigate anything new. So you have to do just the opposite for them: Set the trap and put it right in its path. In fact, if you don't catch anything in the first few days, the trap is probably in the wrong place and should be moved.4 ] F0 U& t% G7 v7 z3 Z. ]; y- n, S
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Physical Characteristics
. ~ w9 F" n+ D% K% sHouse Mouse: Small head, small feet, pointed snout, large ears with some hair. They have a light brown body with some gray shading and a dark tail. Adults weigh 0.5 ounces or 15 grams. Their droppings are shaped like rods.
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Norway rat: Heavy and thick body, blunt snout, and short ears with dark hair. They have a brown body with black shading and a shaggy coat. Their tails are dark on top and pale underneath. Adults weigh 11 ounces or 300 grams. Their droppings are shaped like capsules.* R3 F2 ~7 Z0 O7 h
8 C8 n" E! S; F3 iRoof rat: Light and slender body, pointed snout, large ears with no hair. They have a gray body with black shading and a smooth coat and a dark tail. Adults weigh 7 ounces or 200 grams. Their droppings are shaped like spindles.& s8 K/ d0 n& e% h* C- \
$ _! ]: O+ g H5 N8 G) F. ZMice Habitat and Breeding; O O* T0 i- B& L- _% P ~8 X
Mice prefer to eat cereal grains and plants, but they will feed on almost anything. A mouse will build its nest in a hidden area near a food source. It will use just about any soft material or finely shredded paper to build its nest.
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9 y8 d8 a1 |4 Z4 QIn one year, one female mouse can breed up to 10 litters of five to six young. That's up to five dozen baby mice in one year. Now consider that those 60 offspring can begin to reproduce themselves in as little as six weeks. Mice usually live about nine to 12 months.
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; m# e4 v- W! H4 C1 gMice Movement
/ ?* H1 V: E2 X" r \3 z; ^0 fMice can stand up on their hind legs when supported by their tails. They do this to eat, fight, or figure out where they are. Mice are excellent jumpers, swimmers, and climbers. They can even climb up rough, vertical surfaces. They can jump 13 inches high and run along wires, cables, and ropes. Mice are fast runners. Moving on all four legs, they hold their tail up straight for balance. But if they are frightened, they will just run straight out.
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" n1 w& S5 L, J' {$ R6 o% |# R( h- \Mice are nocturnal and most active from dusk until dawn. They don't like bright lights, but will sometimes come out during the day looking for food or if their nest is disturbed. A mouse can slip through 1/4-inch holes and gaps.
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Mice Facts
5 M+ ` K) k }) q. C9 KThe house mouse is considered one of the top 100 "World's Worst" Invaders.8 @ `. e9 ]+ N- k2 s
Mice are afraid of rats because rats will kill and eat mice. Rat odor can be a strong deterrent to mice and affect their behavior.
4 E2 D. B: g8 N9 [. w' BMice, themselves, have a musky odor.
. K" \" {6 y0 gThey are color blind, but their other senses, hearing, smell, taste, and touch are very keen.
; C$ u# q! n* S. j4 dMice can be found indoors and outdoors, in cities and rural areas./ f) f& h; Q; D- ^$ r' c
Signs of mice presence include droppings, gnawing marks, and tracks.- `; o* y( m% r' P& r! ?9 t
Rat Habitats and Breeding. \9 a; Z6 |" E3 z* `
Rats will eat nearly anything, but they prefer fresh grain and meat. Rats need 1/2 to one ounce of fluid each day. If they don't get this in the food they eat, they have to find water. Unlike mice, which rarely burrow, rats will dig under buildings, along fences, and under plants and debris. The Norway rat lives mostly in burrows while the roof rat nests in walls, attics, and trees.
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A female Norway rat can have six litters of up to 12 young per year. These 70+ rats can start to breed when by the time they are three months old. Rats breed primarily in the spring. Rats can live up to 12 to 18 months. The roof rat has smaller litters of up to eight young and can have eight litters per year.
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Rat Movement3 e; a" B1 S, ^7 V. M) O4 C/ U# r
Rats can enter a building through a hole as small as 1/2 inch in diameter. They are strong swimmers, so, yes, it's true that rats will live in sewers and can enter buildings through broken drains or toilets. A rat will climb to get to food, water, or shelter. They will follow regular routines and paths each day. If new objects are set in its path, it will do whatever it can to avoid it. Rats usually stay within 300 feet of their nest or burrow.
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Rat Facts
8 e! B+ \# r# r' ySigns of rat presence are droppings, gnawing marks, tracks, runways, and burrows.* v+ ?2 A2 V2 ?2 m: ^# M1 M
Like mice, rats are nocturnal, have very poor eyesight, but have very strong senses of smell, taste, and hearing.
, K5 D4 F+ k* _( \Compared to mice, rats are much larger, have coarser fur, and have proportionately larger heads and feet.
. j. v6 }6 F* V1 j* {7 K8 SThe most common rat species in the U.S. are the Norway rat and the roof rat. These two do not get along and will fight each other to the death. The Norway rat usually wins.
6 t9 I* |+ r& H" R, v' ]$ w+ [) ANorway rats tend to live in lower floors of buildings and roof rats on the upper floors, so they can both infest the same building at one time. |
鲜花鸡蛋Zhujiaolian 在2018-12-9 19:10 送朵鲜花 并说:我非常同意你的观点,送朵鲜花鼓励一下
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