Dog poop is said to be the number one food source for rats in developed areas. Although dog poop contains a lot of toxins and infectious bacteria that can make humans very ill, it also contains fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and minerals that can be ingested safely by certain animals, including rats. So if they smell it in your yard, that’s where they are headed.
Well how far away can rats smell?
Rats actually have just as strong and in some cases a better sense of smell than dogs and are often used in police work to detect certain objects. Rats will often depend on their sense of smell to tell if something is edible or not.
But I haven’t spotted any.
A lot of times you won’t see them during the day because rodents tend to only come out at night. Plus, most of the rat population roam more populated areas such as large cities where restaurants and shops will leave their trash bags uncovered on the streets instead of placing them in containers sealed with a lid. So why are we seeing more reports of rat problems in suburban areas? One theory is that there is an increase in the number of pets owned, which means an increase in the amount of pet waste which in turn is attracting more rodents.
Why are rats a bad thing?
Rats are under the ‘pest’ category for a reason as they multiply quickly and can spread life threatening diseases as well as cause structural damage to your home.
Rats have also been known to spread the following diseases:
- Listeria and Pasteurella
- Leptospira
- Worms
- Cryptosporidia and Taxoplasma
- Salmonella,
- Typhus
When infected, these diseases can range from causing flu-like symptoms to more serious, life-threatening complications.