Norway Vs Roof Rats

Color is an easy way to identify roof rats vs.

Norway vs roof rats. The roof rat has a more limited geographical range than the norway rat preferring ocean influenced warmer climates. Norway rat habits vs roof rat habits. Conspicuously shorter than their combined head and body their tails are carried with comparatively less movement than roof rats. Tail shorter than.

The most common home invading rodents norway rats and roof rats can be identified in several ways. Their 6 inch to 8 1 2 inch tails are dark on top with lighter undersides. People refer to rats by many names brown rat vs. 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 will be more commonly found in your attic while norway rats on the ground level. Roof rats can weigh between 8 12 ounces and norway rats can weight between 10 17 ounces. They re typically found within 100 miles of the gulf coastline or the coastline of the western united states. Roof rats have black fur with pale underbellies while norway rats have brownish gray coats.

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. Medium sized chunky rodent with a scaly tail that is shorter than the body. Female roof rats have 10 teats norway rats have heavy thick bodies blunt muzzles and small close set ears. Facts about rats roof rat or black rat.

Additionally the roof rat. Adult roof rats measure about eight inches in length while norway rats can be up to ten inches long. Medium sized slender rodent with large ears and a long thin scaly tail generally longer than body. Roof rats are not as common as norway rats.

While we have focused on roof rats and norway rats as being vermin and unwelcome as unlikely as it may seem these rats do have a positive trait. Another way to differentiate between the two rodents is size. About seven to ten inches long. Roof rats are excellent climbers while norway rats are excellent swimmers.

Black rat for example without realizing that many describe the same two species. They ll crawl across tree branches that hang above roofs and sneak in through windows or attics. Roof rat rattus rattus also called black rat ship rat. Roof rats like their name love roofs and anywhere else high.

Just like everything else location is everything when it comes to identifying a roof rat from a norway rat. 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. In areas where the roof rat occurs the norway rat may also be present. Norway rat rattus norvegicus also called brown rat.

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