Unless they're domesticated, rats are afraid of humans. But if there is no way to escape, a cornered rat would not hesitate to attack a human. For example, the black rat is capable of jumping 70cm into the air. It can climb on a wall and jump on your face.

What to do when you corner a rat?

Rats prefer to jump down, rather than up – unless they are cornered." If you have a rat inside the house, Davis says the best idea is to open an outside door close by and close other doors. "Make a noise with a broom if you can to scare it. But don't ever corner it because it will attack.

Will rats bite you in your sleep?

Most bites happen at night while the patient is sleeping. Rats tend to bite parts of the body that are exposed during sleep, like hands and fingers. Rat bites are usually not severe: most bites are simply washed and the patient is immediately released.