Roof Rat Vs Norway Rat

Roof rats prefer to live above the ground in trees roofs elevated platforms etc.

Roof rat vs norway rat.

Norway rats can also weigh over one pound which is twice as heavy as a roof rat. Norway rats would be considered bottom dwellers and they prefer to live in underground burrows basements tunnels etc. The most common home invading rodents norway rats and roof rats can be identified in several ways. Distinguishing norway rats from roof rats.

Roof rats are not as common as norway rats. Also called the black rat ship rat or old english rat the roof rat measures 6 8 inches long and has a tail that s slightly longer than its body. Both roof rats and norway rats are considered vermin for good reasons. Another way to differentiate between the two rodents is size.

Roof rat the roof rat rattus rattus linnaeus is smaller in size than the norway rat. Adult roof rats measure about eight inches in length while norway rats can be up to ten inches long. 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. People refer to rats by many names brown rat vs.

The roof rat also called gray bellied rat white bellied rat alexandrine rat black rat and ship rat. Norway rats carry many transmittable diseases many of which are extremely serious. Unlike the roof rat the norway rat the species with the scientific name rattus norvegicus prefers to be underground but can be found in a variety of places including under buildings in dumps and on farms. Roof rats live in trees or vine covered fences landscaped residential and industrial areas parks with ponds or reservoirs riverbanks and streams.

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 also have a longer tail a pointy snout and longer ears than norway rats. They re typically found within 100 miles of the gulf coastline or the coastline of the western united states. Tail shorter than.

Another difference is that the roof rat is more slender with a longer tail than the norway rat. The norway rat is the more common of the two rodent species. Splinter from the ninja turtles would be considered a norway rat since he lives in a sewer if this helps you get the picture. Roof rats have black fur with pale underbellies while norway rats have brownish gray coats.

Black rat for example without realizing that many describe the same two species.