How dangerous are rats?

I work the graveyard shift at my job, and when I start work, everyone else leaves and I'm there all by myself. Since this past winter, I've noticed an occasional rat in the kitchen area of my office, however in the past week, they have been getting really brave and coming into the office and running right next to me. These are not pet rats, these are the grey tree rats. Some of them are huge, and some are ....oh I'd say about the size of my foot. I wear a size 7 shoe. Last night a rat ran right under my work station, while I was on a call with a customer. I freaked. I started screaming and jumped up, and started jumping and banging my desk. I also said a few (bleeped) words into the ear of my caller. Anyway, the rat ran out from under my station but he didn't leave the office, he ran right into the middle of the office and found refuge somewhere - I don't know where in the office itself, which meant I spent the night in the room with the rat. I also spent the night banging my desk and hitting my foot on the floor, so the rat would hear activity and hopefully stay away from me.

I am so terrified. I've heard rats carry lots of disease and even rabies. I can't relax, not for a minute while I'm in that office alone. My boss said he's going to set out traps, but I'm not thrilled with that either. I don't really relish the idea of spending the night with a dead or dying rat in a trap, either.

One caller I spoke to, told me that I should just look at a rat as a large mouse, and that they are much more terrified of me, than I am of them. It helped me get thru the other night, but yesterday I was talking with some people at the Vet's office and they told me rats do attack people. Last night, I was in tears I was so terrified. I just want to know if anyone thinks I have anything to worry about, other than the disease factor, or could I get attacked. I'm not going after the rats, I'm just trying to keep them away from me.

Take kitty to work with you, they will enjoy the chase.

Yikes, I've heard rats are kind of like pirrhanas, they can eat a man alive in less than 2 minutes!!!

Just kidding...

Yes, rats can carry TONS of diseases, including the ones their fleas can transmit. Rats are also very bad for allergies. Well I've heard that it's the droppings that are the problem when it comes to allergies. Anyways...Yikes. If I were you I would have a talk with my boss/supervisor, and tell them I was highly allergic to rats and he needed to take care of the problem right away. That's just gross.

Originally Posted by HopeHacker

I work the graveyard shift at my job, and when I start work, everyone else leaves and I'm there all by myself. Since this past winter, I've noticed an occasional rat in the kitchen area of my office, however in the past week, they have been getting really brave and coming into the office and running right next to me. These are not pet rats, these are the grey tree rats. Some of them are huge, and some are ....oh I'd say about the size of my foot. I wear a size 7 shoe. Last night a rat ran right under my work station, while I was on a call with a customer. I freaked. I started screaming and jumped up, and started jumping and banging my desk. I also said a few (bleeped) words into the ear of my caller. Anyway, the rat ran out from under my station but he didn't leave the office, he ran right into the middle of the office and found refuge somewhere - I don't know where in the office itself, which meant I spent the night in the room with the rat. I also spent the night banging my desk and hitting my foot on the floor, so the rat would hear activity and hopefully stay away from me.

I am so terrified. I've heard rats carry lots of disease and even rabies. I can't relax, not for a minute while I'm in that office alone. My boss said he's going to set out traps, but I'm not thrilled with that either. I don't really relish the idea of spending the night with a dead or dying rat in a trap, either.

One caller I spoke to, told me that I should just look at a rat as a large mouse, and that they are much more terrified of me, than I am of them. It helped me get thru the other night, but yesterday I was talking with some people at the Vet's office and they told me rats do attack people. Last night, I was in tears I was so terrified. I just want to know if anyone thinks I have anything to worry about, other than the disease factor, or could I get attacked. I'm not going after the rats, I'm just trying to keep them away from me.

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Hope...I literally feel your pain, rats and mice are my BIGGEST phobia. One of the homeless shelters I work at is an old hospital, 600 people, men, women and children. It's mostly mice, but not always. And before anyone says anything about sweet mice, the droppings of both rodents agravate asthma...a huge problem with the population I serve. Our clinic, where I work in the building it's always mice...big ones, so maybe they are baby rats. I die a thousand deaths, everytime I see one. And the subway tracks, I avoid looking down at them, no pun intened, like the plague, but they still catch my eye. Can/will your employer do anything about it? I swear just writing about it has made my heart rate go up 50%. They are disgusting animals.

Interestingly, there was an article in one of our local papers a few months ago about a man in I think the Bronx, who went around killing rats at night with a 2x4. PETA protested him. The hell with them...let them take them home and live with em! THe city should give the man a medal!

Rats are unacceptable under the Los Angeles Health code. Look up the number for Los Angeles City Building and Safety, or just dial 311 and follow the prompts. If you're in another city look up the appropriate # and notify them. They'll make the building owner come into compliance.

My boss said he's going to set out traps, but I'm not thrilled with that either. I don't really relish the idea of spending the night with a dead or dying rat in a trap, either.

Here's my feeling about traps...and feel free to tell this to your boss...

When you set traps you may kill a few, but 10 come to the funeral!

What you need is poison! the rats eat the poison, they go back to the nest, share it with the others and then, dead, dead, dead. Don't mean to offend anyone, but this is my biggest fear.

ANOTHER IDEA! To help in the interim...collect cat hair, spread it around the corners of the office, or where you have seen them...they will pick up that not so lucky scent. I would continue to do that even after your boss does whatever he plans to do. iF i KNEW WHERE YOU WERE HOPE, I'D SEND YOU A BUCKET OF FRANZS' HAIR! GO TO A CAT GROOMER STAT!

A .12-gauge shotgun works wonders. You'll need to spackle and repaint the walls but, it'll get rid of the rat, for good!

Rats usually are shy creatures and have really no interest in you. I'm not happy about the fact that the place where you work now has to kill these rats...especially since being poisoned and trapped is not a non-cruel way to die...remember rats do feel pain. In the future, I hope your boss will take precautions so humans and rats can be safe. Rats are opportunistic, so once you take care of the problem you're having now your boss needs to make sure that your place of work is kept neat and clean and any holes are sealed so rats can't come in.

Yes, rats do carry disease. Lots of wild animals do...they're wild! However, rats are also intelligent, good mothers, and actually do make good pets. There's really no such thing as a "bad" animal. They are just going by instinct.

You did the right thing by making noise. Any wild animal will attack if cornered...so its good that you didn't try to corner it. Making noise is usually enough to get them away from you. This would probably not happen, but if they got so used to you they were coming up to you I would still advise keeping your distance, both for your safety and theirs. Wild animals who start depending on humans can't survive for long.

"A .12-gauge shotgun works wonders. You'll need to spackle and repaint the walls but, it'll get rid of the rat, for good!"

Spackle....drywall.....Tape.....somehow I don't think they'd be happy but I sure as hell like how you think.


Jeff

I hate rats. They are disgusting. I would tell you boss to call an exterminator, someone who knows what he is doing.

CAPTIVE-BRED rats make good pets. WILD rats are disease-carriers (ever heard of the Black Plague?). Wild rats are NOT shy - they can and will attack humans. Why else, does New York City have a rat-control squad?

Last week, one of Bill's company's pieces of equipment would not start. The yard supe opened up the battery box and a HUGE Norwegian brown rat popped up and snarled at him. THIS rat was not afraid of a large human. Jack swatted it with a tree branch and had a heck of a time, driving it away. After checking out the loader, he found that the rat had chewed up the entire wiring harness.

The following day, Bill and his apprentice went to repair the loader. Prior to opening it, Bill used a hammer to bang on the (steel) battery box, to make sure that the rat wasn't there. There was sign of noise or movement so, they opened the box. There it was, sitting up, as big as you please on top of the battery. Bill took a swing at it, with the hammer but missed. It took both Bill and Justin to chase it off. There's a big chunk of D-Con, in that battery box now. We'll find out, next week, if the rat is dead yet. If not, Bill is packing his .9mm. He won't miss with that.

Ive always heard that rats will attack if they are cornered..Hope, I would have done exactly as you did..jump on the desk and bleep bleep bleep..lol..How horrible, I have goosebumps just reading about it. Wild rats are nasty creatures for sure *shiver*. I would definitely talk to the boss about this and ask him to hire someone to come take care of them.

I have had many pet rats in my lifetime...some I have gotten very attached to just like you would a cat, I loved them and they were very sweet....but I am still terrified of a wild one....a wild rat is a totally different thing...they can be quite mean. It's the same as having a pet dog, but being quite terrified if an unowned pit bull comes into your office. I would be calling Osha about the saftey hazards!!! You should not have to work in conditions like this!!!!

Originally Posted by Debby

I have had many pet rats in my lifetime...some I have gotten very attached to just like you would a cat, I loved them and they were very sweet....but I am still terrified of a wild one....a wild rat is a totally different thing...they can be quite mean. It's the same as having a pet dog, but being quite terrified if an unowned pit bull comes into your office. I would be calling Osha about the saftey hazards!!! You should not have to work in conditions like this!!!!

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You know the funny thing is, I answer Cal Osha's phones at night for the entire state of California. Isn't it ironic?

My boss refuses to spend the money on an exterminator. He said he is putting out three traps and putting peanut butter on them to lure the rats. I thought about bringing my 30 lb Siamese, Shane with me to work, but decided against it, for fear that one of the rats might hurt him or bite him and give him rabies. Also, I don't know if Shane would even know how to catch a mouse, let alone a rat. In my opinion, these rats or at least this one particular rat is a lot too bold for my comfort. I turn on the TV very loud in the kitchen, where they usually hang out. I also have my own TV at work which I turn out quite loudly, in the office where I work. Last night, I spent my entire shift banging and making noise, beating my foot on the floor, and it still didn't prevent that rat from coming right under my desk. If I hadn't have jumped away, and started screaming he would have run across my feet.

These rats are a dark grey in color, I think they're called tree rats. We have this huge tree hanging over the building and during the day cute little squirrels run around and frolic in it. Some of the other employees used to set food out on the patio for the squirrels, and one night I opened up the door and saw about 10 huge rats lined up on the patio eating the food. I told everyone about it, and they quit leaving food out.

I am now about ready to go to work. Inside I am sick to death about having to go. I wish upon wish that I could call out sick. I can't stand putting myself thru that Hell again another night. Each night I fear that it is going to get worse and worse with the rats, and truthfully it has gotten a bit worse each night. This rat one rat is not that scared to come close, and he's not that scared of the noise I make. Wish me good and positive vibes please that a rat doesn't attack me. To my boss, it's sort of a joke. He suggest that I should bring some imported Brie cheese for him to nibble on ect ect. I told him I was too terrified to work under these conditions and I told him I didn't think it was funny. He said he knew I was a stronger person than to crumble under the sight of a rat.

By the way, my job is in West Hollywood, which is a seperate city than Los Angeles, I don't know if Los Angeles City codes will cover West Hollywood, but I do know the L.A. county codes would. I'm kind of stuck, I NEED my job to survive, but I'm about ready to just not go in because of this. Right now, my mouth is dry and I'm shaking and I'm literally terrified to go in. What a way to make a living.

Please guys don't put down Fancy Rats(Or.. you might call them Pet Rats?) They are the most loving gentle pets. I've had 3 over the last 2 years.

But Wild rats are different they sound really scary. Hope, I hope they do something about the rat problem at work, cos that's really scary.

Hugs, good luck for tonight girl..

Originally Posted by katl8e

CAPTIVE-BRED rats make good pets. WILD rats are disease-carriers (ever heard of the Black Plague?). Wild rats are NOT shy - they can and will attack humans. Why else, does New York City have a rat-control squad?

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My assumption is that everyone here is smart enough to know that, which is why I didn't point that out. And being a history major I do know about black plague. Although I should also point out that rats (like all wild animals) will give some sort of warning (like a snarl) which means; "Go away!" Also, any wild animal that is sick or taken by surprise (which is the same thing as being cornered) may attack.

OMG!!!!! You work for Osha???? And you are working under these conditions??? That is beyond ironic!!!! Osha soley exists to premote the safety, health and well being of employees in their workplaces. That is their mission. I would be trying to talk to someone from the corporate office, find out where their main head quarters are...threaten to go public with the fact that an Osha employee has rats running through her office....that is just rediculous!! I feel so bad for you having to work in this atmosphere!!!!!

Originally Posted by Mom of Franz

Interestingly, there was an article in one of our local papers a few months ago about a man in I think the Bronx, who went around killing rats at night with a 2x4. PETA protested him. The hell with them...let them take them home and live with em! THe city should give the man a medal![/b][/color]

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That's because clubbing ANY animal to death is MUCH more cruel than any other way of "controlling them". Rats feel pain just like cats do. Besides, for every rat he clubbed to death more were born in their place. Do you know how fast they reproduce? Besides, that guy sounds like an idiot. What he was doing was dangerous.

Originally Posted by Mom of Franz

Interestingly, there was an article in one of our local papers a few months ago about a man in I think the Bronx, who went around killing rats at night with a 2x4. PETA protested him. The hell with them...let them take them home and live with em! THe city should give the man a medal!

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Killing rats with a 2x4 is extemely inhumane and although I don't normally agree with Peta, in this case, Amen to them!

Hope! It's so aweful that you have to face such fear just to make a living! It's wrong! Perhaps you could put in an anonymous call to Osha about this, or investigate the city codes regarding this type of thing. I would be willing to bet that there are laws protecting you. Nobody wants (or should have to) work in these kinds of conditions. If your boss/company received a fine or citation for having a rat infestation, I would imagine that would light a fire under them to take care of it. I encourage you to look into the laws that protect the public against things like this. Knowledge is power, my dear, and can only work in your favor!
Please try and have a decent night. My thoughts are with you!