The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-09-17
RAT IS A Pa03LEM
PROBABLY THE WORST MAMMA
LIAM PEST KNOWN TO MAN.
Destroys Property Worth Millions Of
Dollars Every Year and Oisssm-
mates eubonie piasue-stud-
led by Biological Survey.

The rat II believed to be the worst
mammalian pest known to man. Not
only does 1t destroy property worth
millions Of dollars every year, but IL
Is now known to be the principal
agent In disseminating bubonic
plague. This Is not contagious dis
ease in the ordinary sense. The IN
lection is spread from rat to rat and
from rat to man solely By means Of
the rat flea.
The United States department OF
agriculture. through its biological sur
vey, has recently given the rat prob
lem serious attention. The results OF
that work have appeared in . bulle
tin on THE Brown Rat" There are
several species of rats, but the com
mon house or barn rat. the so-called
Norway rat" Is the most widespread
and by far the most destructive. By
means Of ships 1t has been carried to
almost every part Of the world. and
wherever landed 1t has proceeded to
make itself at home.
The species has wonderful adapta-
bility to climatic and other conditions
In North America II is found from
Panama to the Yukon valley and to
Greenland.
The rats bill of fare includes al
most everything eaten by man, and
considerable number of things not In
cluded in human dietaries. rs. for in
stance. carrion. mice. kid gloves. ivory
and horses hoofs.
Among the most common foods of
rats are corn and other grain. II fed
on grain alone, 1t Is estimated that
one rat will eat 60 cents worth IN a
year. while of oatmeal. II will con-
sumo $3.50 worth. II We suppose the
Of rats In the United States
TO be equal to the number Of horses.
cattle. sheep and hogs. II would cost
more than 100000. 900 year to board
them on grain.
But the damage done by rats Is no.
TO be measured by what they eat.
pollution Of food products
hey do as much damage a. by eat.
ing them. Besides they do great dam
age by digging under buildings and
by gnawing woodwork.
but cutting holes In sacks. and BY cut
ling up goods and papers to make
nests. They kill young poultry and
squads. They steal eggs. They fire.
luently destroy the nests Of wild
birds. They have been known to
gnaw holes In lead pipes, and they
cause fires by gnawing the insulating
from electric wires where
hey pass under the floors or inside
partitions. They also cause fires by
and gnawing matches.
Though q serious pest on farms.
rats commit their greatest deprcda-
ions In cities. An attempt has been
made to secure from the business men
IF Washington. ID. c.. estimates Of
he annual losses due to rats and mice.
The data secured indicate losses ex.
100000.
The rapidly with which rats multi
ply Is the main reason why man ap-
pears to make 30 little Roadway in
heir destruction. The females give
birth to large filters OF young, and
he intervals between the litters are
short. More than 90 young rats have
been found in a single nest. and It is
safe to estimate the average litter at
more than ten. It has been calculat-
ID that a single pair of rats and their
progeny breeding without Interrupt
ion and suffering no losses would In
lhree years increase to more than
20. 100000.
The author of this bulletin says
hawks and owls. especially the lat
Ter. destroy great numbers of rats. q
good work which man should encour-
age. Weasels. minks and skunks are
also rat destroyers. He recommends
The persistent use OF traps and pol
sons. But he thinks the most prom
sing lines of effort lie In ID rat
proof construction of buildings. espe-
rially the use Of concrete In founda.
ions; and (2) reducing the food sup
ply of rats by the disposal Of garbage
and the protection of food supplies.