Roof Rat Vs Norway Rat

About seven to ten inches long.

Roof rat vs norway rat.

Black rat for example without realizing that many describe the same two species. Roof rats are not as common as norway rats. Norway rats carry many transmittable diseases many of which are extremely serious. 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.

Norway rats would be considered bottom dwellers and they prefer to live in underground burrows basements tunnels etc. The norway rat is the more common of the two rodent species. Roof rats prefer to live above the ground in trees roofs elevated platforms etc. Another way to differentiate between the two rodents is size.

Another difference is that the roof rat is more slender with a longer tail than the norway rat. Roof rats have black fur with pale underbellies while norway rats have brownish gray coats. Additionally the roof rat typically has a much longer tail. The most common home invading rodents norway rats and roof rats can be identified in several ways.

The roof rat also called gray bellied rat white bellied rat alexandrine rat black rat and ship rat. 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. Tail shorter than. Roof rats also have a longer tail a pointy snout and longer ears than norway rats.

Roof rat the roof rat rattus rattus linnaeus is smaller in size than the norway rat. 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. 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. Distinguishing norway rats from roof rats.

They re typically found within 100 miles of the gulf coastline or the coastline of the western united states. Adult roof rats measure about eight inches in length while norway rats can be up to ten inches long. 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 can also weigh over one pound which is twice as heavy as a roof rat.

Both roof rats and norway rats are considered vermin for good reasons.