What Do Rats Eat That We Eat?

It’s six o’clock in the morning, you are barely awake and in a rush for time to leave for work. You reach into your pantry to find your cereal box with a nice hole nibbled through the side where your favorite breakfast character’s face once was. You look around your pantry to find all sorts of your food packages have been ripped into and partially nibbled on. This is a rather nasty way to wake up in the morning. In this moment, you might be coming to the conclusion that a rat has found its way to your food. So, what do rats eat that we eat?

Rats can prove to be externally bothersome pests if they manage to sneak into your home. Rodents can be even worse if they find a way into your pantry.  It’s not like the Tom and Jerry cartoons where mice and rats only like cheese. Quite the contrary, rodents will eat just about anything. And those aren’t raisins they left behind. Rodent droppings can spread viral diseases that can make you and your loved ones extremely ill. If you happen to live in an area which is prone to rat infestations, especially near fruit groves or storm drains than it’s a good idea to rat-proof your home and especially your kitchen pantry.

There are many rumors that rats have a collapsible skeleton, they actually do not!

Their bones are just like any other mammals. What rats do have is an uncanny way of contorting their body to fit into a hole as small as an inch. Rats are also quite persistent and have been known to nibble their way through vents, soft metals, wood, and an occasional roof shingle. As a homeowner, you have to remain diligent when watching for any new holes around your home.

Think back to the last time you went to a buffet, was it difficult to choose what you wanted? Probably. There’s a good chance you took a bit of everything that looks or smelled delicious. Rats are the same way when it comes to your pantry. To them, it’s a delicious buffet and everything must be tasted. When food is in abundance, rats become very picky about what they want to eat. So, of course, they’re going to try everything. Rats are omnivores, so anything in your pantry from the tortilla chips to the canned ham is on tonight’s menu. They’re rather keen to peanut butter, nuts, gumdrops, and dried fruits. They also love chocolate. Who would blame them? Yes, they do like cheese, mainly because of the smell, but it isn’t one of their favorite foods.

How do you keep your food safe from unwanted rodents?

• One good way to determine if your food will attract rats is to smell it. If you can smell it through the packaging, so will they.
• Products, like cereal, after they’re opened should be transferred into airtight containers. That way there is no chance any rat will smell it.
• Food in foil packages should also be stored in plastic along with any food in a cardboard box. A cardboard box is like Crackerjacks to a rodent, they have to open it to see the prize inside.
• Basically, storage is the key to keeping rodents from making a home in your pantry.

Looking for more information? Visit our website at myaipm.com learn more about our solutions and learning center. Follow us here on Facebook for updates and announcements. If you would like a free evaluation as to the likeliness of rodents invading your home, please call or email AIPM at 888-344-6567 or HappytoHelp@myaipm.com.