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Pest Index

Brown Norway Rat

Rat (Norway Rat)

Binomial Name: Rattus norvegicusBrown Rat

Identification:

  • Weight: 200-480g
  • Overal Length: 30-45cm
  • Tail: Stout, bald and shorter than body; dark above and pale beneath
  • Colour: Various, brownish-gray back, greyish-white belly

Life Cycle: The young are born blind following a gestation period of between 20 to 25 days. Litters range from 2 to 22, with 5 to 12 being common. The Norway rat reaches sexual maturity at 3 months. Females usually produce 4 to 7 litters per year. Length of life in wild conditions is about 1 year.

Behaviour: The Norway rat lives at or under ground level. They will live both inside and outside buildings and have a home range of 15-30 metres. It is an excellent climber, swimmer and jumper, and is found everywhere. It prefers narrow, concealed, out-of-the-way routes when moving about.

Signs of Infestation: Droppings are 25-30mm long and often contain hairs. Look for live rats, droppings, gnawing, burrows and smear marks on the wall.