What Every Homeowner Should Know About Rat Diseases

Nobody wants to have rats in their home, but how dangerous are they?

These adaptable rodents have lived alongside humans for centuries, thriving in urban and rural environments. While they are often associated with property damage, their potential to carry and spread disease is what makes them a particularly concerning invader.

To help you better understand the risks rats and other rodents pose to your household, we’ll walk through the most common types of rats found across America, the diseases they can carry, and what you can do to keep them out.

What Are the Different Types of Rats That Infest Homes?

At first glance, rats and mice may seem similar, but they have a few differences. Rats tend to be larger, with longer tails, blunter snouts, and thicker bodies, while mice are smaller and more agile. Several species of rat are particularly common in home infestations—each with its own unique behaviors and challenges to deal with.

The Norway Rat

The first thing you should know about Norway rats, also known as brown rats or sewer rats, is that they are excellent swimmers. Despite being one of the largest species of rat you are likely to encounter, they can easily fit through tight spaces and often infest homes through a surprising entry point: your toilet.

Norway rats can hold their breath for as long as three minutes, allowing them to navigate long pipes, catching air pockets where they can, and ultimately finding their way into your home. Their strong teeth help them to chew through materials like wood and plastic, making it easy for them to create additional entry points once they arrive and damaging your home in the process.

The Roof Rat

Roof rats are also called black rats or ship rats, and it should be no surprise that they got their name from their tendency to infest ships, which has allowed their population to spread across the globe. These rodents are notoriously well-skilled at climbing. This is so much of an issue that massive container ships often have rat-replant shields fixed to their mooring lines to prevent these rats from climbing the ropes like a tightrope to get onboard.

Unlike their more curious Norwegian counterparts, roof rats tend to be cautious and wary of new objects in their environment. This behavior can make them particularly difficult to track down and trap without an expert approach to rodent control.

The Pack Rat

Also known as wood rats, pack rats get their name from their unique hoarding behavior. These rodents love to collect and stash objects—especially shiny ones. They use materials like candy wrappers, aluminum foil, and even electrical wiring to decorate and camouflage their nests. Some pack rats have even been known to trade items with one another, exchanging objects in a form of rodent barter.

All this is to say, pack rats are highly intelligent animals with the means and the motivation to infest your home. Their nesting habits can create significant clutter, and their attraction to wiring makes them a fire hazard if left unchecked.

Do All Rats Carry Diseases?

There is no such thing as a disease-proof rat. Even in controlled environments, such as laboratory settings or pet stores, rats remain susceptible to a variety of illnesses. However, the biggest health risks come from wild rats that scavenge in unsanitary conditions and come into contact with other infected animals.

Unlike domestic rodents, wild rats frequently pick up bacteria, parasites, and viruses from their surroundings. Whether they are rummaging through garbage, navigating sewer systems, or living in close quarters with other animals, they act as carriers for a range of diseases that can be transmitted to humans and pets if they invade your home.

What Diseases Do Rats Carry?

The diseases rats may potentially carry are diverse, and they don’t always come directly from the rats themselves. In many cases, fleas, ticks, and other parasites that hitch a ride on these rodents are responsible for some of the most concerning illnesses, such as:

• Leptospirosis. Spread through rat urine, it can cause flu-like symptoms, liver damage, and even kidney failure.
• Hantavirus. Found in rodent droppings, hantavirus can lead to severe respiratory illness if left untreated.
• Salmonella. Transmitted through rat-contaminated food, salmonella is a common cause for food poisoning.
• Rat bite fever. This is a bacterial infection spread through bites, scratches, or contaminated food. It is treatable with antibiotics.
• Bubonic plague. While rare today, fleas from rats can still spread this disease.

So, Are Rats Dangerous?

While rats are not inherently aggressive, they can introduce serious health risks into your home. Their presence alone can increase the likelihood of disease exposure. Their constant gnawing can also lead to structural damage, electrical hazards, and contaminated food supplies.

However, rats aren’t the only animals that can pose a problem—mice, squirrels, birds, and other wildlife can also introduce unwanted bacteria and parasites into your living space.

The key to protecting your home isn’t just eliminating rats—it’s about maintaining an environment that discourages all forms of infestations. Regular inspections, preventive treatments, and a proactive approach to pest management from Brooks Pest Solutions can make all the difference.

From infestations to minor issues, our team brings targeted treatments and expert strategies to keep rats and other household invaders from turning your home into theirs. Reach out to us today to request a quote, and rest easy in a home shielded from rodents and the illnesses they carry.