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Rodent Identification
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Roof Rat: Also known as the Black Rat, Ship Rat, & here in Florida, the Fruit or
Citrus Rat. This is the only rat we have to worry about here in Orlando. All of the rat photos you see on this website are from
Roof Rats. I have never encountered a single Norway Rat down here. Roof rats are usually gray to slightly brown in color. Adults
are typically 8 inches long, with a 9 inch long tail. The tail is long, dark, and scaley. Roof rats prefer warmer, more tropical
climates than |
Norways. Roof Rats get their name because they spend about 90% of their time above ground. The live in trees, run
on power lines, the tops of fences, and they really love to live in the attics of houses. Females have 4-6 litters per year,
with 6-8 young per litter. They are fully weaned within a month, and sexually mature in as little as two months. They don't live
very long in the wild, seldom more than a year. Roof Rats are nocturnal, which is why you hear them scampering in your attic
in the middle of the night.
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Norway Rat: Also known as the Brown Rat, this is the giant rat you hear about
living in New York City sewers. It can grow to twice the size of the Roof Rat. The Norway Rat is different from the Roof Rat in
several ways. Norway Rats have a thicker, heavier body, and a shorter tail. They have a more blunt snout. They are usually more
brown in color than the Roof Rats. They prefer to live at ground level, hence their presence in the sewers. They seem to be highly
dependent upon people for food and shelter sources. Like all rats, they have poor vision, and |
rely primarily upon their sense
of smell and their highly specialized senses of feel and balance to survive. As with all rodents, their teeth grow continuously, and thus they gnaw on
many surfaces to wear down their teeth.
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House Mouse: The House Mouse is commonly known, but rarely seen here in Orlando.
Many people call me claiming to have seen mice, when they have in fact seen juvenile Roof Rats. You must remember that mice are
very small, less than an ounce in weight. They exhibit behaviors similar to rats. They are nocturnal, like to live in homes,
and destroy food and property with their chewing. |
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