Neither a snake nor a cockroach: this is the most dangerous pest that can appear in your home.

Although cockroaches, ants, or even snakes may seem more threatening, the reality is that there is another, more dangerous pest that can invade a home. Due to their destructive potential, their ability to climb structures, and their role in transmitting serious diseases, their presence requires immediate attention and constant preventive measures. What animal is this?

According to the specialized website Plagoo, far from being a simple nuisance, the black rat is often underestimated, but it poses a real threat to the health and safety of homes.

Also known as the Asian rat due to its origin, the black rat has become one of the world's most dangerous urban pests, capable of transmitting serious diseases, damaging infrastructure, and reproducing rapidly.

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Although not typically aggressive, the black rat carries multiple infectious diseases that can seriously affect the human body. These include:

- Leptospirosis (or Weil's disease), which can cause liver and kidney damage and even internal bleeding.

- Salmonellosis , which causes severe gastrointestinal symptoms.

- Listeriosis, especially dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, and immunosuppressed individuals.

- Toxoplasmosis, which although usually mild, can cause complications in certain risk groups.

- Hantavirus, outbreaks of which have been lethal in several regions of the world.

Many of these infections are transmitted through contact with rodent urine, feces, or saliva, and can be spread through contaminated food or surfaces, making any infestation a major health risk.

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The dangers of black rats

Beyond the biological risk, black rats can also cause serious property damage. Their constant need to gnaw, to keep their teeth in check, leads them to chew through materials such as wood, plastic, electrical cables, and even pipes, as they can cause fires, floods, or gas leaks. Their ability to climb and reach roofs, attics, or ventilation systems makes them even more dangerous, as they can invade high areas of the home without being easily detected. Pest control experts warn that it is very common to confuse the black rat with the gray rat or the common rat (Rattus norvegicus), but there are key differences: - The black rat is slimmer, more agile, and lighter, with a pointed snout, large eyes, and a tail longer than its body. - It has superior climbing ability, allowing it to nest in trees, roofs, power lines, and high places, unlike the common rat, which prefers low, damp areas, such as sewer systems.

- It reproduces rapidly, although at a lesser rate than the gray rat, with up to five litters per year.

What to do if you suspect an infestation?

If you notice any signs of black rats, such as the presence of droppings, noises in the ceiling, gnawed wires, or contaminated food, experts recommend against rash action. Homemade traps or misused poisons can be ineffective or even dangerous. The best course of action is to contact a professional pest control company, which will assess the level of the infestation and implement safe and effective methods to eradicate them.

With a great capacity for adaptation that has led it to be present on every continent, this rodent typically lives in vegetated areas, warehouses, parks, residential rooftops, and elevated structures. In urban areas, unlike other species, it avoids sewers.