Rats are the most dominant species of rodents on earth, belonging to the Rattus genus of the family Muridae. There are several species of rats in the world. Most rodents eat plants, but some eat animals as well. In general, there are two basic types of rats, specifically roof rats (black) and Norway rats (brown). Both are believed to have originated in Asia and are now widely spread throughout the world.
Roof Rats
The black rats are sometimes called roof rats & ship rats, scientifically named Rattus Rattus. These rats are usually black in color, slender, 16-21 cm long and weigh about 80-300 grams. Their nose and muzzle are pointed, and their tail is longer than the head & body. As the name suggest, roof rats are climbers. Their paws are built to climb & make nestles in upper parts of homes, attics, rafters & crossbeams of buildings.
Barn Rat
The Norway rat is sometimes known as the house rat, brown rat, gray rat, barn rat or wharf rat. It is one of the best-known and is the larger of the two. Rattus norvegicus is their scientific name. Their other name refers to their grayish-brown body, with a lighter colored stomach. A brown rat in full size is 18 to 26 cm long & weighs between 400 and 600 gm. Their tail is shorter than its body & their nose & muzzle are blunt. They prefer moist conditions & nest in deep burrows.
These rats breed when they are 3 – 4 months of age. They breed 1 to 13 times each year & produce up to 22 in each litter. Black rats & brown rats eat about the same things. Their diet mainly consists of grains, veggies, fruits, cereals, meats, seeds, nuts and invertebrates. They consume about a third of their weight in food everyday.
They carry fatal diseases, damage structures & contaminate food. Some of the diseases potentially deadly to man that spread through rats are salmonella food poisoning, toxoplasmosis, Weil’s disease & plague.
Learn more about the most effective methods of eradicating rats and other pests from your homes or offices.
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