Norway Rats Roof Rats Big Mice

If you are unsure of the species look for rats at night with a strong flashlight or trap a few.

Norway rats roof rats big mice.

Facts about rats roof rat or black rat. And the roof rat also known as black rat or house rat rattus rattus. 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. The ultimate size of a roof rat is also limited by its food supply.

Norway rats will leave a mark as they drag their tails between their feet. Roof rats possessing a long tail. Norway rats are the larger of the two species up to about twice the size of roof rats. Roof rats will also make tunnels through insulation and will leave chew marks wood pipes.

The roof rat feces are spindle shaped and reach about 1 2 inch in size the norway rat s droppings have a capsule shape. The norway rat droppings are 1 4 to 1 2 inch in length. Roof rats have black fur with pale underbellies while norway rats have brownish gray coats. Adult roof rats measure about eight inches in length while norway rats can be up to ten inches long.

The droppings are capsule shaped and have blunt ends. 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. While roof rats excel scaling your roof norway rats are powerful swimmers. They re typically found within 100 miles of the gulf coastline or the coastline of the western united states.

Additionally the roof rat typically has a much longer tail. Norway rats tend to look more well fed and rounder than roof rats with small eyes close set ears and a shorter tail. Another way to differentiate between the two rodents is size. On the basis of the tail size.

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. Two species of nonnative rats are the primary pests in california urban areas and urban gardens the norway rat also known as sewer rat brown rat or common rat rattus norvegicus. Roof rats are not as common as norway rats. Roof rats have a typical lifespan of one year which limits how big they can become.

Also known as black rats or ship rats roof rats are outstanding climbers. And also because the norway rat can quickly adapt to the changes in the temperature compared to the roof rats. The tail markings and hind feet markings of the norway rat and of the roof rat are hard to differentiate between each other. The roof rat has a more limited geographical range than the norway rat preferring ocean influenced warmer climates.

In areas where the roof rat occurs the norway rat may also be present. The diet of the roof rats is entirely different from their brethren species. Roof rats typically live in trees including palms or elevated structures where there is an adequate but rarely an abundant food source.