What else do rats attack? Just pigeons? Other bird species? Or even worse, do rats attack humans? Many residents are well aware of the need for rat control in the Grand Rapids MI area throughout Michigan and the city’s large population of rats, leading them to a bigger question:
Before you get super stressed out, we’re here to tell you that you don’t need to worry. The short answer to your question is that rats can and will jump on the attack, but only under certain circumstances.
Rats have been known to attack live prey. Within reason, a rat will try to kill and eat any animal in its surroundings, including birds, fish, and many other small mammals. Bigger birds, like hawks and falcons, can swoop down, grab a rat with their claws, and make a meal out of it.
Rats will attack pigeons and other bird species if provoked. Pigeons are slow-moving birds. They don’t immediately fly away, making it easy for a rat to jump on the attack. As you may know from experience, pigeons like to hang out in large crowds, which offers them easy access to human food. Therefore, these birds usually enjoy a human-food snack, and rats always look for an easy meal. In some cases of a rat attack, a pigeon can fly away by aggressively flapping its wings, but unfortunately, they don’t always break free.
Thankfully, unlike pigeons and smaller mammals, we don’t have to worry about rats attacking us. Rats are scared of humans. They will do anything to avoid being around a living being larger than them. However, if a rat feels cornered, it may attack in an attempt to protect itself.
Rats are nocturnal, which leads us to another popular question:
As stated above, healthy rats don’t bother or try to attack humans. However, since they are nocturnal creatures, they wander buildings and homes when those areas are quiet. Rats are mainly looking for food. If a rat is in your home while you’re sleeping, and you went to bed with a late-night snack, there is a chance the rat would jump up for any leftover crumbs.
PSA: Rats can transmit many diseases, so seek medical advice if you are bit by one.
All rat species may attack if they feel threatened or are provoked or scared and need to fight their way out of a confrontation.
Many rats don’t attack anything – birds or humans – since they typically hide during the day. Rats are actually pretty fearful creatures and don’t want to be bothered, hence one reason they forage at night.
Contact Wolverine for rat control.
Whether you are interested in rodent control for your home or have questions about rats, you can count on Ehrlich! Sealing gaps and openings, our rodent exclusion service is the perfect solution to prevent rats from making a home out of yours. If you find yourself with a rat infestation, our rodent control methods will work to remove the rats and keep them off of your property, leaving you with a much safer environment.
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