My subject, "Rodent Control in
Food Establishments," means rat control
in food establishments, because the rat
constitutes the major rodent problem
in such places and, with the exception
of the house mouse, is the only one
with which we need be concerned. The
brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) is the
common rat known throughout this
country. Another species of the same
genus, the black rat (Rattus rattus),
is present in parts of the southern and
southeastern states.