Roof Rat
Scientific Name: Rattus rattus (Linnaeus)
Description: The roof rat is a commensal (i.e., living in close association with humans) rodent. The head and body are six to eight inches long and the tail is an additional seven to ten inches. It has a slight body which weighs five to nine ounces. The fur is smooth, and brown in color with some black hairs. The muzzle is pointed, eyes and ears are large, and the scaly tail which is uniformly dark, is longer than the head and body combined. Roof rat droppings are up to 1/2 inch long and spindle-shaped with pointed ends.
Biology: Adults are sexually mature in two to five months. Females produce four to six litters per year, each averaging six to eight young. Adults live from nine to 12 months. They have poor sight but keen senses of smell, taste, hearing and touch.
Habits: Rats are nocturnal. they are shy about new objects and very cautious when things change in their environment and along their established runs. Outdoors, roof rats prefer to nest in trees and burrows in vegetation.
Control: The keys to a successful program of rodent control are identification, sanitation, elimination of harborage and rodent proofing.Rats can be trapped using glueboards and snap traps placed along walls and near vertical runs where the rats travel.