Norway Rat

OVERVIEW

• Also known as brown rat, sewer rat, and wharf rat
• Most widely distributed rat species in the United States
• Adult weighs 12-16 oz
• Head and body up to 10 in. with tail about equal length
• Reddish to grayish brown with lighter underside
• Course fur
• Blunt nose
• Most active at night
• Poor vision, but has great hearing and sense of smell
• Good swimmers
• Creates burrows
• Lives in fields and farm land, but enters homes in the fall
• Prefers food with high carbohydrate and protein content
• Can get through openings about ½ in.