Norway Rats Vs Roof Rats

Roof rats hunt for food and shelter.

Norway rats vs roof rats.

Roof rats prefer to live above the ground in trees roofs elevated platforms etc. Slender and graceful looking roof rats have 7 1 2 inch to 10 inch long tails. Differences between roof rats and norway rats appearance size. People refer to rats by many names brown rat vs.

The most common home invading rodents norway rats and roof rats can be identified in several ways. 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. The black rat rattus rattus. In addition norway rats can contaminate food and introduce fleas into a home.

The main difference between roof rats and norway rats is their behavior. Norway rats can also weigh over one pound which is twice as heavy as a roof rat. Norway rats tend to look more well fed and rounder than roof rats with small eyes close set ears and a shorter tail. Size and physical characteristics.

These rats are also vectors of diseases including plague jaundice rat bite fever cowpox virus trichinosis and salmonellosis. Splinter from the ninja turtles would be considered a norway rat since he lives in a sewer if this helps you get the picture. While roof rats excel scaling your roof norway rats are powerful swimmers. Norway rats have a long thick and rounded body shorter blunt nose and their tail is shorter than the length of their body.

Norway rats also called sewer rats brown rats and wharf rats are much larger and darker in color which ranges from a grayish brown to reddish brown. Distinguishing norway rats from roof rats. Roof rats have black fur with pale. Norway rats close relatives of the roof rats and also known as old world rats or brown rats are less common than roof rats but still a threat.

What is the difference between a roof rat a norway rat. Roof rats also have a longer tail a pointy snout and longer ears than norway rats. Tail shorter than. The norway rat can weigh nearly twice as much as a roof rat and be many times larger than the common mouse.

About seven to ten inches long. Their fur tends to be colored brown with some black scattered throughout and to the touch their fur is coarser than that of a roof rat. Norway rats can cause damage to structures through their gnawing and eating. Norway rats would be considered bottom dwellers and they prefer to live in underground burrows basements tunnels etc.

Generally identified by color three sub species of roof rats are known. They differ in color as the norway rat is brown or reddish and the roof rat is black.