Norway Rats And Roof Rats

It will kill a roof rat in a fight.

Norway rats and roof rats.

Contrary to some conceptions the two species. Norway and roof rats don t get along. Their 6 inch to 8 1 2 inch tails are dark on top with lighter undersides. The norway rat is larger and the more dominant species.

Norway rat roof rat cross. Female roof rats have 10 teats norway rats have heavy thick bodies blunt muzzles and small close set ears. Also known as black rats or ship rats roof rats are outstanding climbers. Norway rats will leave a mark as they drag their tails between their feet.

Facts about rats roof rat or black rat. Roof rats are not as common as norway rats. Norway rats tend to look more well fed and rounder than roof rats with small eyes close set ears and a shorter tail. Differences between roof rats and norway rats.

They re typically found within 100 miles of the gulf coastline or the coastline of the western united states. While roof rats excel scaling your roof norway rats are powerful swimmers. Conspicuously shorter than their combined head and body their tails are carried with comparatively less movement than roof rats. Adults generally live up to one year in the wild.

While these pests may look the same to the untrained eye they do differ in appearance size and behavior. Though there are many types of rats found across the mid atlantic states two that cause issues for residents and business owners are roof rats and norway rats. Norway rats reach sexual maturity in 2 to 5 months and can breed any month of the year. Norway rats rattus norvegicus and roof rats rattus rattus also called black rats ship rats are different species a species according to the biological species concept is a group of related individuals or populations that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring members of different species cannot produce fertile offspring together.

Whereas the norway rat prefers its subterranean abodes the roof rat enjoys nesting in attics roofs and even treetops. To catch roof rats and other rat species place tomcat mechanical traps within 100 feet of the rats suspected nest. Norway rats and roof rats will leave a hind foot track of about 3 4 1 inch where a mouse s track measure s 3 8 of an inch or less. When the two species occupy the same building norway rats may dominate the basement and ground floors with roof rats occupying the attic or second and third floors.

Because norway rats tend to be larger their droppings are also larger about 3 4 inch long whereas roof rat droppings are usually about half an inch. Due to their genes being 90 equivalent to that of humans medical research on rats has allowed for many significant strides in the study of human diseases. Females can have three to 12 litters per year and litters may number from 4 to 22. Also called the black rat ship rat or old english rat the roof rat measures 6 8 inches long and has a tail that s slightly longer than its body.