PestQuest

Norway Rats

RatBiology

  • Average life span is 1-2 years.
  • Average litter size is 8-12 young, and can have up to 7 litters in a year.
  • An average adult Norway rat weights 1 lb.
  • Rats have poor eyesight, but very good senses of smell, hearing and touch.
  • A rat's home range is small, usually not more than 100-150 feet in any direction from their burrow.
  • Rats are omnivorous, meaning they will eat just about anything, especially human garbage.
  • Rats are active mostly at night.
  • Rats will hoard large amounts of food and store it in their burrows.
  • Rats require free water and drink it regularly when available.
  • Rats display dominance and will fight for the best territory.
  • When a rat population gets too high, some members will leave to find a better home.
  • Norway rats are various shades of brown to black, with lighter sides and belly, and have small ears.

Interesting Facts:

  • Rats can gnaw through cinder blocks, lead pipes, aluminum sheeting, bricks, plastics and glass.
  • Rats can squeeze through a hole no bigger than a quarter.
  • Rats can climb up pipes, rough exterior walls such as brick or cinder block, and wires.
  • Rats can swim up to ½ mile and tread water for up to 3 days.
  • Rats can jump vertically up to 3 feet high from a flat surface, and can jump down from a 5 story building, land on its feet, and walk away without serious injury.
  • Rats exhibit shyness to unfamiliar objects in their environment and will avoid new things for 3 days or more.