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.
Roof rat norway rat.
With a body length of 6 8 inches long.
The roof rat has a longer tail more slender body larger ears larger eyes and a more pointed nose than a norway rat.
They differ in color as the norway rat is brown or reddish and the roof rat is black.
Roof rats have black fur with pale underbellies while norway rats have brownish gray coats.
Norway rats are excellent swimmers who readily dive through water seals in toilets emerging in toilet bowls.
Medium sized chunky rodent with a scaly tail that is shorter than the body.
Additionally the roof rat typically has a much longer tail.
The norway rat is larger and more aggressive than the roof rat.
Grease marks from the oil and dirt of rats often appear along walls next to runways.
Norway rats carry many transmittable diseases many of which are extremely serious.
In addition to the damage to your property if you have an infestation there are several health risks to you and your family that the rats can create.
Roof rats prefer to live above the ground in trees roofs elevated platforms etc.
A roof rat weighs between five and eight ounces and measures 12 18 inches long including its tail.
Faster and more agile than norway rats they use their tails for balance on electrical wires much like squirrels.
Adult roof rats measure about eight inches in length while norway rats can be up to ten inches long.
As an adult the norway rat can weigh between 12 16 oz.
Roof rats are not as common as norway rats.
Roof rats are expert climbers and gain access to buildings by climbing onto roofs from trees or overhead utility lines.
Splinter from the ninja turtles would be considered a norway rat since he lives in a sewer if this helps you get the picture.
Norway rats leave a hind foot track of about 3 4 1 inch.
Another way to differentiate between the two rodents is size.
As you might expect black rats are grayish black with a yellow belly.
Indoors runways appear as clean paths through dust or dirt.
Norway rats would be considered bottom dwellers and they prefer to live in underground burrows basements tunnels etc.
Roof rat rattus rattus also called black rat ship rat.
The nose is blunt with small ears and small eyes.
Both roof rats and norway rats are considered vermin for good reasons.
Its fur is shaggy and coarse with variation in colors.
Many folks just refer to this species a black rat.
Rats will also drag their tails leaving a mark between their feet tracks.
Norway rat rattus norvegicus also called brown rat.
The main difference between roof rats and norway rats is their behavior.
They re typically found within 100 miles of the gulf coastline or the coastline of the western united states.
