Services > Pest Management > Rodents > Norway Rat



Latin Name:
Rattus norvegicus

Appearance:
Brown, heavy-bodied, 7 to 9 1/2 inches long, with small eyes and ears and blunt nose. Tail is shorter than head and body. Its fur is shaggy. Droppings are capsule-shaped.

Habit:
Nests in underground burrows, from which they enter buildings in search of food. Tends to remain in hiding during the day.

Diet:
Omnivorous, but prefers meats. Cannot survive long without water.

Reproduction:
Reaches sexual maturity in two months and can breed any month of the year. Litter may number from eight to twelve. Females can have four to seven litters per year. Adults live as long as one year.

Other:
Most common rat in the U.S. Limited agility, but excellent swimmer. Carrier of many serious diseases.