![]() ![]() Upon receipt of written notice from the code official to the effect that there appears to be inadequate ratproofing or no ratproofing, the owner of any building specified therein shall take immediate steps to ratproof the building.Unless such measures are taken within five days after receipt of the notice, the occupant shall be punished accordingly. 11-6-5) Whenever the code official notifies in writing the occupant of any building or premises that there is evidence of rat infestation of the building, the occupant shall immediately institute rat eradication measures and shall continuously maintain such measures in a satisfactory manner until the building or premises is rat-free or the code official advises that there is no evidence of rat infestation. According to the VA Code of Ordinances (Sec.The following proactive rodent abatement measures are requirements for construction, demolition, and land disturbance projects. The roof rat is appropriately named because by nature it is a climber and commonly lives above the ground in "roof" or aerial areas around structures. Roof rats can be thought of as the "vegetarians" of the commensual rats as they prefer to eat seeds and plant foods such as fresh vegetables or fruits. This is why traps and bait boxes are sometimes avoided for several days. Even a change in position of a familiar object causes suspicion. This neophobic behavior may last for several hours or even for several days. This is termed "neophobia" which means "a fear of new". Rats constantly explore and re-explore their surroundings, but are wary of new foods, new objects, or changes in their environment. In urban areas most rats remain around the buildings and yards which provide their necessities, and unless they are disturbed, they do not move great distances. If need be, however, rats will travel 1300 feet or more daily to obtain food and water. The territories of most rats are between 50 and 150 feet radius around the nest. As the rats mature, begin to rear families, and the population grows, the burrows become enlarged and expanded. Rat burrows start out usually short, varying between 12-30 inches in length. Outdoors, the nesting places are often in burrows alongside of foundation walls. Indoors, the Norway rat prefers to nest around the floors of buildings, but when populations are large, it will occupy attic areas, suspended ceilings and under floors. Norway Rats, as well as other rats, prefer food with a high carbohydrate and protein content although almost any type of food will be taken, food items in household garbage provides rats with a balanced diet. Burrows consist of tunnels dug below ground and are used by rodents for nesting and as a path for travel. Footprints indicate the presence of rodents and furnish information regarding places where they travel or which they frequent. These are frequently traveled paths along floors, stairs, and shelves, where droppings, rub marks and stains from rodent urine are found. Deposits of body oil and dirt from rodents found along frequently traveled routes may be used as an indicator of habitual pathways. Rodents gnaw in an attempt to obtain shelter and food, also to keep their front teeth, which grow constantly, from becoming too long. The presence of droppings can indicate activity and possible severity of the problem. A distinct odor from rodent urine may indicate the presence of rodents. These can be made up of many kinds of materials, such as bits of paper, straw, rags, etc. Important signs of a rodent infestation are: Additionally, numerous fires have been started by rats chewing through electrical wiring. Rats destroy approximately ten times more food through urination and defecation then they actually eat. Rats continuously gnaw to keep the growth of their teeth in check and to gain entrance to obtain food and shelter. Rats and mice are responsible for the spread of a number of diseases, either directly, by contamination of food, or indirectly, by way of rodent fleas and mites.
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