Norway Rat
Norway Rat–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
