If you have ever been to a farm or the basement of a large building, you may find that there are large numbers of Myrtle Beach rats that are living there. Because a rat can breed up to six times a year, a colony of 10 or 12 can turn into hundreds by the end of the year, making for one of the most horrific sites imaginable. Rats not only are messy, but they carry diseases and will over run a building if given the chance. This is why many seek to exterminate them as the option.



With so many in a colony, many wonder how these animals communicate with one another. Most would think that the rats would battle one another for superiority, but the truth is that they actually communicate with one another to set up how to operate and live together. This is not done with some kind of vocal communication but is done with pheromones.

When most of think of pheromones we think of ants and other insects. Ants are the most well-known; where they release a chemical that lets other ants know where they had gone or where to follow. This is how the Myrtle Beach rats communicate with one another as well. A pheromone is a chemical that is released by one organism that causes others within that species to react in some way. The response is dependent upon the kind of pheromone that is released, meaning that not every one that is expelled causes the same kind of reaction.

Releaser Pheromones – these are pheromones that are released that let other South Carolina rats know that they are invading into another rat’s territory. While thousands of rats can live in a colony together, that does not mean that they welcome rats from other colonies. The releaser pheromone can be a warning to rats from another group, or can be a warning to other male rates to stay away from one rat’s mate.

Primer Pheromone – This is released during peak periods of sexual behavior, and occurs as a female presents that she is ready for mating. The male releases this to let the female know that he is pursuing her and she then approaches him to begin sexual intercourse. It is also known that in some Myrtle Beach species of rats this pheromone is so strong that it can cause a female to miscarry.

Information Pheromone – This is actually not used to communicate, but is instead used to learn about other species of Myrtle Beach animals. Once released, they smell the other animal to learn about it through the pheromone. This can also be used by some species of rats to let other South Carolina rats know their current health status, such as them being sick or hurt.

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