The roof rat is a slightly smaller
rat than the Norway rat, weighing approximately
260 grams. It has a slender body shape, pointed
nose and grey/black or brown fur with a white underside.
It has large, almost hairless ears and its tail
is hairless and longer than the length of its body
and head combined.
Roof rats reach sexual maturity after 3–4
months and give birth to 4–5 litters each
year. |
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| With a gestation period
of 23 days and an average number of 6–8 per
litter, roof rats reproduce rapidly. Estimates suggest
one breeding pair can be responsible for producing
up to 1000 offspring in a year. Their lifespan is
about a year. |
Roof rats prefer elevated habitats
and often live in trees or on vine covered fences.
Landscaped residential or industrial areas provide
good habitat, as does vegetation on riverbanks and
streams. They will often move into orchards and
citrus groves. Roof rats are sometimes found living
in or around poultry or other farm buildings as
well as in industrial sites where food and shelter
are available. Being agile climbers, Roof rats frequently
enter buildings from the roof or accesses near utility
lines, which they use to travel along.
When necessary, roof rats will travel considerable
distances for food. They may live in attics and
climb down to a food source. Traditional baiting
or trapping on the ground may intercept very few
roof rats. Roof rats have a strong tendency to avoid
new objects in their environment and this can influence
control efforts. These rats may take several days
before they will approach a bait station or trap. |
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