There are two non native rats that call marin home.
Norway roof rats marin.
Roof rats possessing a long tail.
Roof rats rattus rattus are smaller than the norway at about 7oz its tail is longer than its head body.
The roof rat rattus rattus and the norway rat rattus norvegicus.
Adult roof rats measure about eight inches in length while norway rats can be up to ten inches long.
It is found in all the states in the usa but in coastal states the roof rat is more dominant.
There are two species of rats that commonly become a problem in and around homes in marin and sonoma counties.
Roof rats and norway rats are the two rat species most likely to enter homes.
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.
Roof rats leave behind the most evidence of their presence in elevated places where they prefer to nest.
While the signs of roof rats and norway rats are similar there are a few differences that aid in exclusion and removal.
On the basis of the tail size.
The roof rat has a long tail which is longer than the combined length of the head and body.
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.
Both species have several common names please see our rat brochure for a list of these names.
The adult roof rat is about 7 10 inches long and weighs about 5 9 ounces.
The norway rat is larger and more aggressive than the roof rat.
And also because the norway rat can quickly adapt to the changes in the temperature compared to the roof 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.
On the other hand norway rats live at ground level or below.
Another way to differentiate between the two rodents is size.
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.
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 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.
Roof rats and norway rats.
It lives mainly in burrows and sewers and is an excellent swimmer and occasional climber.
The diet of the roof rats is entirely different from their brethren species.
Roof rats being the smaller sized ones with a considerably slender body.
Norway rats tend to look more well fed and rounder than roof rats with small eyes close set ears and a shorter tail.
These two species can be differentiated by physical characteristics and habits.
The norway rat rattus norvegicus is also called sewer rat brown rat water rat wharf rat and gray rat.
The fur of roof rat is smooth while the fur of the norway rat is rough and shaggy.
