Norway Rats

Norway Rat Facts

Scientific Name:

Rattus Norvegicus

Color:

Usually grayish-brown, but color varies from a pure gray to a reddish brown; hard to identify by color alone

Weight:

10-16 ounces; larger than Roof Rat

Length:

7-10 inches

Tail Length:

6-8 inches; shorter than the body

Body:

Heavy & thick body, blunt nose

Ears:

Relatively small; close to body

Eyes:

Large & protruding black eyes

Lifespan:

5 to 12 months

Droppings:

¾ inch long with blunt ends; dark color; found in groupings

Norway Rats - Overview

Other Names: Brown Rat, Gray Rat, Common Rat, House Rat, Wharf Rat, Water Rat, Barn Rat, Sewer Rat, Super Rat

Diet

Daily Amount:

0.5-1 ounce

Daily Water:

1-2 ounce

Daily Food:

Cereal grains, meats, seeds, cockroaches, fruits, shrimp

Habitat

Geography:

Throughout the US and Canada

Nest Location:

Burrows in soil, sewers, basements, lower portion of buildings

Home Range:

25-100 ft from nest

Active Periods:

Nocturnal; most feeding occurs 30 minutes after sunset and before sunrise

Reproduction

Litter Size:

8-12 pups per litter

No. of Litters:

4-7 per year

Sexual Maturity:

2-3 months

Gestation Period:

22 days

Breeding Season:

Indoors: All year; Outdoors: Spring & Fall

Top 10 High Activity Areas

Basements
Beneath wood piles
Near or beneath outside dog pens
Garage walls near heaters and stored food
Beneath low-lying decks
Beneath slab walkways
Within brick foundation wall voids
Beneath low-lying and cavernous shrubbery
Within 100 ft of dumpsters and garbage cans
Beneath slabs supporting food bins