The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-07-30
Brown Rat Most Destructive Rodent

TIME brown or Norway rat (Mus norvc-
Sicus) Is the worst mammal pest in the
United States. the losses from Its dep
relations amounting 10 many millions of
dollars ycarly-to more. probably, than the
losses from all other injurious mammals
combined In addition 10 its destructive
habits this rat Is now known to be an active
agent In disseminating infectious discascs-a
fact which renders measures for its destruc
tion doubly Important
Introduced into America abou; l755. the
brown rat has suppantcd and nearly cXter-
minated its less robust relative. he black
rat. and despite tic incessant warfare OF
man has extended It's range and steadily in
creased In numbers. It's dominance IS due
to It's great fecundity and it's ability to adapt
Itself TO all sorts OF conditions. Ii breeds
three -four or even more times year. and
produces from six 10 seventeen young in
litter Females breed when only or 5
months old. The species is practically ON
nivorous, feeding upon all kinds OF animal
and vegetable matter 1t makes it's home In
tho open field. the hedge row and the river
bank, well as In stone walls piers and
all kinds OF buildings II destroys grains
when newly planted. while growing. and In
tho shock. stack NOW crib. grunary mill
elevator or ships hold and also I'm The bin
and feed trough IL attacks fruits yccc-
tables and meats In the markets and de-
stroys by pollution ten times as much as II
actually cats. Ii carries disease germs from
house to house and bubonlc plague from city
to city. IL causes disastrous confagrations;
floods houses by gnawing lead water pipes:
ruins artificial ponds and cmbankments by
burrowing; destroys eggs and young poul-
try; cats the cgGs and young of song birds
and game birds. and damages foundations
floors, doors and furnishings of dwellings,.
First in Importance a measure OF rat
repression Is the exclusion OF tho animals
from places where they find food and safe
rpf he
The best way to keep rats from buildings.
whether in city OF in country is by the
of cement I'm construction. AS the advan-
tages of this material coming to be gen.
orally understood Its use Is rapidly extend
ing to all kinds of buildings Dairies barns
stabs>s chicken houses icchouses. bridges
dams. siloS. tanks, cisterns. root cellars, hot
beds. sidewalks and curbs often
made wholly of cement The processes of
mixing and laying this material require little
skill special knowledge and workmen of
ordinary intelligence can successfully follow
tic plain directions contained in handbooks
OF cement construction. Illustrated hand
books are often furnished free by cement
manufacturers
Granaries corn cribs and poultry houses
may be made rat proof by a liberal use OF
concrete in the foundations and floors. or
the floors may be OF wood resting upon con-
crete. Objection has been urged against
concrete floors for horses. cattle and poultry
because the material Is too good conductor
of heat. and the health of the animals suffers
from contact with these floors. In poultry
houses dry soil sand may be used as
covering for the cement floor and in stables
a wooden floor resting on the concrete Is
jus, as satisfactory far the exclusion
OF rats Is concerned.
The common practice of setting corn cribs
on posts With inverted pans ut the top often
fails 10 exclude the rats because the posts
h,yb nuh r1r tbo
cracks Of the structure beyond reach of the
animals, The posts should project al least
three feet above the surface OF tho ground,
for rats are excellent jumpers. But crib
built In this manner though cheap, is un-
slightly.