Rattus Norvegicus

Norway rat

What do I look Like

One pair of distinctive chisel shaped incisors with hard yellow enamel on front surfaces. Grey-brown in colour above, white to grey below; shaggy bristly fur. Blunt muzzle with long whiskers. Its ears are of medium size with a Short scaly tail, shorter than body. head and body length of 20–27 cm and tail length of 16–20 cm
weight of 200–500 grams Banana or sausage-shaped droppings.

A Little Bit About Me

Female Brown/Norway rats can have 5-6 litters annually, each averaging 8-10 pups after a 21-day gestation period. They construct nests in urban areas, under bushes, and in sewers.

They live communally in burrows with multiple entry points near human dwellings, displaying neo-phobic behaviour.

These rats, found in coastal urban areas, forage at night, squeezing through 13mm holes. While not skilled climbers, they navigate pipes, jump a meter vertically, drop 15cm without injury, and burrow down to 1.2m.

The Norway rat eats meat, fish, flour, seeds, grains, fruits, vegetables and anything a human will eat. They eat 30g of food per day and drink about 15ml water each day. A rat must have water daily to survive.

They have acute hearing, are sensitive to ultrasound, and possess a very highly developed olfactory sense.

Where I live

The Norway/Brown Rat has now spread throughout much of coastal Australia and is most commonly seen in urban environments, but also in undisturbed areas around the coast.

Am I a Danger to Humans

Norway/Brown rats, are pervasive global pests with the potential to contaminate food, transmit diseases, and cause property damage. they carry various pathogens and parasites, posing health threats to humans. Infections can result from bites, contact with rat urine, or fleas. rat faeces. . It's crucial to take precautions, avoiding rat contact and seeking medical attention if exposure is suspected.
Rattus

Roof Rat

What do I look Like

Long pointed head (can be more rounded in juvenile). Large thin ears (20mm+) which reach middle of eye when bent forward.

Charcoal grey to black or light brown above, cream or white below; sleek smooth coat.

Scaly tail, much longer than head and body
Weight of 150-250 grams but can grow up to 340 grams
Droppings have pointed ends.

A Little Bit About Me

Black Rats are nocturnal, but are often seen during the day.

The roof rat, also known as the ship rat or black rat, is smaller than the common Norway rat. Their life span is usually 9-12 months. Females can have 4-5 litters per year.

The Black Rat has successfully adapted to human urbanisation partly because it eats just about anything. They prefer to live in roofs, cavity walls, trees, scrapes or burrows around farms, making nests of shredded materials. Black Rats are very closely associated with humans, common in urban areas, and are very agile climbers.

Where I live

The Black Rat has now spread throughout much of coastal Australia and is most commonly seen in urban environments, but also in undisturbed areas around the coast.

Am I a Danger to Humans

Similar to other rodents, Black/roof rats may carry a number of pathogens, which can result in disease, including Weil's disease, rat bite fever, cryptosporidiosis, viral hemorrhagic fever, Q fever and Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
Mus Domesticus

House Mouse

What do I look Like

The house mouse is small. brown or grey fur
One pair of distinctive chisel shaped incisors with hard yellow enamel on front surfaces.
Small slender build Bulging eyes in a small head,
Mice have a pointed nose, large rounded ears and pink feet.
Scaly tail, about same length as body. Its head and body length of 8-10 cm with a weight of 14-20 grams
Small spindle or irregular-shaped droppings.

A Little Bit About Me

They have a life span of approximately 12 months. Females can have 6-10 litters per year. Sexual maturity is reached at about 6 weeks, with a gestational period of 3 weeks.

The House Mouse lives mainly in urban areas, being closely associated with humans. It prefers to live in secluded parts of buildings, reed beds, cracks in the ground or shallow burrow systems, make nests of shredded materials.

Where I live

The House Mouse is found throughout Australia.

Am I a Danger to Humans

House mice can transmit diseases, and can damage food and food packaging. Some of the diseases the house mouse carries can be deadly: for example, leptospirosis, murine typhus, rickettsialpox, tularemia, lymphocytic choriomeningitis and potentially bubonic plague. Many of these diseases are harmful to both humans and livestock.

The biggest Misconceptions about Rodents

It is important to note that while cats may catch and kill mice, they are not a sufficient solution for controlling the rodent population. House cats are often well-fed and may not feel the need to hunt mice for food. Additionally, mice can easily hide in areas that cats cannot access.

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