Rats are considered as some of the most troublesome and damaging rodents found in urban and suburban area. Common rats which are regarded as important pests in Malaysia are the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) and Malayan house rat/roof rat (Rattus rattus diardii). A female rat could give birth to 6-12 pups, in which they will reach sexual maturity at about 3 months. An average life span for a rat is about 1-2 years depending on conditions such as food source, harborage and predator.
Rodents may cause damage to products and goods due to gnawing and biting behavior. Besides that, infestation by rodents also effect human health as they are known to be the vector of various diseases such as plague (through rat flea), leptospirosis, salmonella, tapeworm (via urine and droppings), rat-bite fever, rat mite dermatitis and many more.
This pest also consistently follows the same path while foraging for food, usually along the fence, wall, stacked merchandise, piping and sewage system. Along the path, rodents will leave some greasy and dark marking trails. Other sign of infestations include droppings, foot prints, burrows and urine. Rodents are opportunistic feeders and practically feed on almost any type of food. Once they found a palatable food source, they tend to feed on it and return to that particular area repeatedly if it is undisturbed. However, they are also quick to develop food or bait shyness if the food eaten proves to be disagreeable or unattractive.