Adult roof rats measure about eight inches in length while norway rats can be up to ten inches long.
Norway vs roof rats.
They ll crawl across tree branches that hang above roofs and sneak in through windows or attics.
Their 6 inch to 8 1 2 inch tails are dark on top with lighter undersides.
Roof rats are not as common as norway rats.
The roof rat has a more limited geographical range than the norway rat preferring ocean influenced warmer climates.
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 rattus rattus also called black rat ship rat.
Additionally the roof rat.
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.
Roof rats have black fur with pale underbellies while norway rats have brownish gray coats.
If you are unsure of the species look for rats at night with a strong flashlight or trap a few.
Black rat for example without realizing that many describe the same two species.
Tail shorter than.
Color is an easy way to identify roof rats vs.
Roof rats are excellent climbers while norway rats are excellent swimmers.
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.
Roof rats like their name love roofs and anywhere else high.
Roof rats will be more commonly found in your attic while norway rats on the ground level.
Just like everything else location is everything when it comes to identifying a roof rat from a norway rat.
Female roof rats have 10 teats norway rats have heavy thick bodies blunt muzzles and small close set ears.
Another way to differentiate between the two rodents is size.
People refer to rats by many names brown rat vs.
Norway rat habits vs roof rat habits.
About seven to ten inches long.
They re typically found within 100 miles of the gulf coastline or the coastline of the western united states.
Conspicuously shorter than their combined head and body their tails are carried with comparatively less movement than roof rats.
In areas where the roof rat occurs the norway rat may also be present.
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.
Facts about rats roof rat or black rat.
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.
Distinguishing norway rats from roof rats.
Roof rats can weigh between 8 12 ounces and norway rats can weight between 10 17 ounces.
Medium sized slender rodent with large ears and a long thin scaly tail generally longer than body.
