Are There Really Rats in the Sewers?
So you may be wondering, are there really rats in the sewers? The short answer is yes, there are! It may seem like a horrifying and unrealistic scene to go into your bathroom and discover a rat coming from your toilet bowl. However, this is a completely possible scenario. It’s true that a rat can be found in the toilet bowl.
Before you panic, please overcome the urge to permanently seal your toilet. Learn how rats can gain access to your pipes, as well as what you should do in this circumstance.
How do Sewer Rats End Up in the Toilet?
Sewer rats, which are commonly known as Norway rats, are exceptional swimmers. They can paddle with their legs and use their long tails as rudders to guide them in the right direction. They’re also long-distance swimmers. Certain species of rats can hold their breath for three minutes and tread water for up to three days. Some sewer rats can swim more than a mile. There is plenty of pipe for them to run in as well.
Rats, on the other hand, don’t fare well when they’re hungry, so when food becomes short, they go on the hunt for new locations to eat. The sewer, of course, provides easy access to your drain pipes and food in your home. Rats will also consume feces if there aren’t any other food sources accessible. When you consider that rats have hinged rib cages, which allows them to enter your home through narrow pipes, it’s easy to see how they could end up in your toilet bowl.
Where Do They Live?
You might believe that residents of major cities like New York City or Los Angeles are the only ones who need to be concerned about finding a rat in the toilet. This is simply not the case . Sewer rats can be found in any building with indoor plumbing, as long as the drain system’s diameter is large enough for the rats to get through. However, because metropolitan regions have bigger populations, you may be more likely to find a rat in your toilet bowl if you reside in one.
What to Do if a Sewer Rat is in Your Toilet:
If you have rats in your sewers, do you need to do something about it? Rats can directly transmit several diseases to humans, including leptospirosis, rat-bite fever, and salmonellosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Even if rodents didn’t spread diseases, finding a rat in the toilet would most likely not make you happy. However, if you do encounter one, there are two things you should do:
- First, back up and shut the door, confining the mouse to the bathroom.
- Next, contact a rodent control company to have a skilled specialist examine your issue and tailor a rat control solution to your specific requirements.
How to Prevent Sewer Rats in Your Toilet:
Unfortunately, there isn’t much that can be done to prevent rats in sewers. On the upside, you’re very unlikely to find a rat in your toilet. If you are one of the fortunate few to see this phenomenon, follow the measures outlined above. Depending on where you reside, you may also want to contact the city to tell them.
Call 1-Tom-Plumber
Don’t hesitate to contact us here or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237) if you need any plumbing, drain cleaning, or excavation service. 1-Tom-Plumber’s certified team of plumbers and drain technicians respond immediately to any emergency plumbing, drain cleaning, or water damage problem. We also handle the excavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines. Our immediate-response team is available every day and night of the year, even on holidays.
