Norway Rats Vs Roof Rats

Norway rats can also weigh over one pound which is twice as heavy as a roof rat.

Norway rats vs roof rats.

With an average weight of about 11 ounces norway rats have acute hearing and a great sense of smell. These rats are also vectors of diseases including plague jaundice rat bite fever cowpox virus trichinosis and salmonellosis. 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. The most common home invading rodents norway rats and roof rats can be identified in several ways.

Norway rats would be considered bottom dwellers and they prefer to live in underground burrows basements tunnels etc. About seven to ten inches long. Distinguishing norway rats from roof rats. Black rat for example without realizing that many describe the same two species.

Norway rats can cause damage to structures through their gnawing and eating. Splinter from the ninja turtles would be considered a norway rat since he lives in a sewer if this helps you get the picture. They differ in color as the norway rat is brown or reddish and the roof rat is black. While roof rats excel scaling your roof norway rats are powerful swimmers.

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. In addition norway rats can contaminate food and introduce fleas into a home. What is the difference between a roof rat a norway rat. Norway rats have a long thick and rounded body shorter blunt nose and their tail is shorter than the length of their body.

The main difference between roof rats and norway rats is their behavior. Roof rats have black fur with pale. The norway rat can weigh nearly twice as much as a roof rat and be many times larger than the common mouse. Norway rats tend to look more well fed and rounder than roof rats with small eyes close set ears and a shorter tail.

Generally identified by color three sub species of roof rats are known. Size and physical characteristics. Roof rats prefer to live above the ground in trees roofs elevated platforms etc. Differences between roof rats and norway rats appearance size.

Tail shorter than. The black rat rattus rattus. 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. Slender and graceful looking roof rats have 7 1 2 inch to 10 inch long tails.

Roof rats also have a longer tail a pointy snout and longer ears than norway rats. Color is an easy way to identify roof rats vs.