It does happen on rare occasions. And it’s not something anyone expects to see in their own home, in their own bathroom. When a rat ends up in a toilet bowl, it’s usually because it swam there through sewer pipes, not because it fell in while tiptoeing on the rim.

A rat entering a toilet is an uncommon event and usually only occurs if the rat population in the sewers in very large...and if the sewer system and lines are in bad shape. In many cities, rats use the older sewer systems as highways. They can follow the scent of food washed down drains and enter the stand pipe to a home. Unable to reach a kitchen, they can end up in the toilet instead. Rats can also get into toilets by entering the system through a roof vent.

Can rats drown? Norway rats are semi-aquatic by nature. They can swim as far as half a mile in open water and can dive and swim under water for 30 seconds at a time.

Needless to say, closing the lid and flushing does not usually get rid of the toilet rat. Neither does pouring rat poison into the bowl. As with any sewer rat situation, the long term solution usually requires more than you can do alone. Communities, local government and local utilities have to get involved when rats have taken over the sewers.

Norway Rats are omnivores and opportunistic feeders, feeding on any natural or human foods available. Rats are neophobic and may avoid new objects placed in their environment for some time, which can make rat control difficult. The gestation period of a female rat is 22 days, litters average 8 to 9 pups, and she may have several litters in her one year. Damage from rats includes gnawing, as they chew on pipes of plastic or metal, wires, wood, or furnishings and walls, and commonly bite humans. While not the primary reservoir of bubonic plague, they have the potential to spread this disease, along with several others as well as filth infections.

What should I do if I find rodents in my home?

Every year, rodents gain access to homes, causing property damage, contaminating food sources, triggering allergies and, in some cases, causing illness/disease. It is estimated that rodents infest approximately 21 million homes in the United States, each year. At the first signs of rodents, whether one rodent, multiple rodents, rodent damage or rodent droppings, action should be taken immediately. Getting rid of rodents will not only protect your structure, but your family’s health and safety.

Thomas Pest Services has been solving rodent problems for those that live, work and play in the Capital Region and surrounding towns like Chatham, Schenectady, Latham, Saratoga Springs and Queensbury with third generation experience. Rat removal is serious and Thomas Pest Services is licensed in getting rid of rodents, contact us via phone at 1-877-518-2847, via web for a free estimate, Facebook or Twitter!