Norway Roof Rats Marin

There are two species of rats that commonly become a problem in and around homes in marin and sonoma counties.

Norway roof rats marin. The fur of roof rat is smooth while the fur of the norway rat is rough and shaggy. The roof rat has a long tail which is longer than the combined length of the head and body. Roof rats leave behind the most evidence of their presence in elevated places where they prefer to nest. The larger norway rat rattus norvegicus also known as brown sewer or wharf rats are stocky with a blunt nose and a tail shorter than their body.

The norway rat is larger and more aggressive than the roof rat. The norway rat rattus norvegicus is also called sewer rat brown rat water rat wharf rat and gray rat. These two species can be differentiated by physical characteristics and habits. Both species have several common names please see our rat brochure for a list of these names.

Another way to differentiate between the two rodents is size. And also because the norway rat can quickly adapt to the changes in the temperature compared to the roof rats. While roof rats excel scaling your roof norway rats are powerful swimmers. The main difference between roof rats and norway rats is their behavior.

Roof rats have black fur with pale underbellies while norway rats have brownish gray coats. The diet of the roof rats is entirely different from their brethren species. While the signs of roof rats and norway rats are similar there are a few differences that aid in exclusion and removal. Roof rats possessing a long tail.

It lives mainly in burrows and sewers and is an excellent swimmer and occasional climber. Roof rats rattus rattus are smaller than the norway at about 7oz its tail is longer than its head body. On the other hand norway rats live at ground level or below. Roof rats and norway rats.

Norway rats rattus norvegicus are the larger of the two rat species at about 11oz its head body is longer than its tail a diagnostic feature. Additionally the roof rat typically has a much longer tail. Roof rats are agile climbers and usually live and nest above ground in shrubs trees they particularly like palms and dense vegetation such as ivy honeysuckle and blackberries. Roof rats and norway rats are the two rat species most likely to enter homes.

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. Roof rats being the smaller sized ones with a considerably slender body. The adult roof rat is about 7 10 inches long and weighs about 5 9 ounces. Moving in an area up to 150 feet in diameter norway rats burrow along building foundations beneath rubbish or woodpiles and moist areas in and around gardens and fields.

On the basis of the tail size. There are two non native rats that call marin home. Norway rats tend to look more well fed and rounder than roof rats with small eyes close set ears and a shorter tail. Roof rat roof rats rattus rattus sometimes called black or tree rats are smaller than norway rats they have pointed muzzles and tails longer than their head and body combined.