Brown rats are not native to North America, but the aggressive rodents managed to spread in widespread numbers. In a recent report, researchers studied how rats came to North America. They discovered that they used ships as superhighways to spread over the region.
Brown rats are small, but agile rodents. They are most frequently found in urban areas, bushes, and sewers, and are distinguishable by their brown color and front teeth. They can grow in a significant number, which can impact homes.
As a result, a recent report made an effort to document how the brown rats managed to spread over North American cities. The research findings were published in Science Advances, suggesting that there is little knowledge about the said rat's ecology and behavior.
Aggressive Brown Rats and Ships as Super Highways
(Photo : by MARTINE PAUWELS/AFP via Getty Images)
According to the study, the researchers employed an isotopic and ZooMS analysis of archaeological, from the 1550s to 1900 CE. It helped provide insights into the rat remains in the areas of eastern North America, particularly their arrival in the area.
The study suggested that the brown rats managed to arrive earlier than expected. Despite black rats being present in North America, brown rats can repopulate fast, making them more devastating to urban areas. Reports reveal that the first appearance of the brown rats occurred before 1940.
Understanding the rat population and emergence can be helpful for mitigation efforts, as they can bring deadly diseases to human health. But, how did the rats travel to North America despite not being native there?
The report discovered that the brown rats took advantage of the ships as superhighways, particularly the shipping networks in the Atlantic Ocean. They outcompeted the black rats and increased the brown rats in numbers.
The brown rats were reportedly the reason behind the spread of the deadly bubonic plague, which took away millions of people in the 14th century.
Threat of Brown Rats
In addition, brown rats can carry or transmit diseases, including deadly leptospirosis, spotted fever, typhus, hantavirus, Weil's disease, Salmonella, Toxoplasma, and Listeria. Leptospirosis-related bacterial disease is one of the most common threats. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn of life-threatening conditions of leptospirosis without treatment. People can suffer from inflammation, kidney damage, or liver failure.
Pest control is essential to avoid the risk of diseases from rats, which can carry food-borne germs. Without mitigation control, they can grow and wreak havoc at home, as their species is very adaptable to their environments.
According to a report by Oregon State University, homeowners should avoid leaving uneaten food anywhere. It is important to throw in plastic bins. When storing food supplies, containers are helpful. When homes have gaps, it is best to repair the gap, which can allow rats to enter.
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