Rats leave dirt, waste and grease in their paths. They are also capable of chewing through wood and concrete. Rat holes are both unsightly and dangerous; not only do. Have you found rat nests behind boxes or in drawers in the garage? Are there smudge marks caused by the rats rubbing their fur against beams, rafters, pipes.

For more information on the Living With Wildlife series, contact the WDFW Wildlife Program 360-902-2515 Living with Wildlife Rats Figure 1. The Norway rat has a long, tapering, nearly naked tail. (Photo by Ron Austing.) • • • • • • • • • Washington is home to both native and non-native rats, the latter sometimes being referred to as Old World rats. Native to the Orient, Asia Minor, and Siberia, Old World rats were introduced to North America on the ships of the early voyagers. These highly adaptable rats continue to enter new regions on board ships, trains, and trucks carrying freight and other goods around the world. In Washington, they are now found wherever humans have established permanent residence or industry.

Old World rats include the Norway rat ( Rattus norvegicus, Fig. 1), also known as the brown rat, sewer rat, or wharf rat, and the black rat ( Rattus rattus), also called the roof rat. Norway rats average 16 inches in length, which includes the animal's long, tapering, scaly tail that is slightly shorter than the combined length of the rat's head and body. Norway rats are grayish-brown in color from top to bottom; white, black, or mottled individuals are occasionally found. The rats used in laboratories and sold as pets are specially bred strains of Norway rats. While early scientific descriptions of this species came from Norway, and it was once believed to have arrived in England aboard Norwegian ships, the 'Norway rat' is neither a native of Norway nor more common there.

Black rats are similar in length to Norway rats, but are more slender and darker. The tail is longer than the combined length of the head and body.

As one of their names implies, roof rats are agile climbers and are found on roofs and in the upper levels of buildings. Preferring saltwater-influenced warmer climates, and being more likely to board ships than Norway rats, black rats are often seen in port cities and coastal towns. Facts about Old World Rats Food and Feeding Behavior • Old World rats will eat anything humans or livestock will eat, plus many less palatable items including animal droppings, garbage, and other rats. • Rats living apart from human habitation are know to eat seeds, nuts, and insects, as well as young birds and bird eggs. • When given a choice, rats select a nutritionally balanced diet, choosing fresh, wholesome items over stale or contaminated foods. • Rats begin foraging soon after dark and most of their food gathering occurs before midnight. Best Spotify Playlist 2017 - And Torrent.

They often store or hoard food in hidden areas. • The main constraint of rats is they cannot live long without water if their diet doesn't contain adequate amounts of liquids. • Food items in household garbage offer a fairly balanced diet and also satisfy their moisture needs. Territory and Family Structure • Old World rats travel 50 to 300 feet from their nests to look for food and water and patrol their territory. However, they can travel much farther when necessary.

• Rats generally live together in a group dominated by a large male that guards a harem of females and aggressively prevents other males from mating. • Rats seen during the day are generally socially low-ranked individuals who have been denied access to food by dominant rats during the night. Nest Sites • Roof rats build nests in attics, trees, and overgrown shrubbery or vines. Roof rats rarely dig burrows for living quarters if off-the-ground sites exist. • Norway rats prefer to nest at or under ground level, and in the lower floors of buildings.

How To Autostart A Program In Windows Ce here. • Rats can have several nest sites. They may spend a week in their primary nest site, and then move for a day or two into an alternate nest site.

• Due to their daily need to drink water, rats prefer to nest where water is easily available. Reproduction • Old World rats breed year-round, but reproduction is concentrated in the warmer months. • A litter of six to ten young are born after a gestation period of about three weeks.