Norway Rats Vs Roof Rats

About seven to ten inches long.

Norway rats vs roof rats. With an average weight of about 11 ounces norway rats have acute hearing and a great sense of smell. 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. Differences between roof rats and norway rats appearance size. People refer to rats by many names brown rat vs.

Norway rats can also weigh over one pound which is twice as heavy as a roof rat. Roof rats hunt for food and shelter. The black rat rattus rattus. Size and physical characteristics.

Norway rats have a long thick and rounded body shorter blunt nose and their tail is shorter than the length of their body. What is the difference between a roof rat a norway rat. Their fur tends to be colored brown with some black scattered throughout and to the touch their fur is coarser than that of a roof rat. They differ in color as the norway rat is brown or reddish and the roof rat is black.

The main difference between roof rats and norway rats is their behavior. The norway rat can weigh nearly twice as much as a roof rat and be many times larger than the common mouse. The most common home invading rodents norway rats and roof rats can be identified in several ways. While roof rats excel scaling your roof norway rats are powerful swimmers.

Distinguishing norway rats from roof rats. Norway rats tend to look more well fed and rounder than roof rats with small eyes close set ears and a shorter tail. Roof rats have black fur with pale. Roof rats prefer to live above the ground in trees roofs elevated platforms etc.

These rats are also vectors of diseases including plague jaundice rat bite fever cowpox virus trichinosis and salmonellosis. Splinter from the ninja turtles would be considered a norway rat since he lives in a sewer if this helps you get the picture. Black rat for example without realizing that many describe the same two species. Tail shorter than.

Generally identified by color three sub species of roof rats are known. Norway rats would be considered bottom dwellers and they prefer to live in underground burrows basements tunnels etc. Slender and graceful looking roof rats have 7 1 2 inch to 10 inch long tails. Norway rats close relatives of the roof rats and also known as old world rats or brown rats are less common than roof rats but still a threat.

Color is an easy way to identify roof rats vs. In addition norway rats can contaminate food and introduce fleas into a home.