Roof Rat Vs Pack Rat

Also called the black rat ship rat or old english rat the roof rat measures 6 8 inches long and has a tail that s slightly longer than its body.

Roof rat vs pack rat.

Arizona is home to many of these rodents and as they have become a plague you may want to check out how to identify them. Unlike many species of rat they are excellent climbers and build their nests indoors where the heat rises and keeps them warm. They have long hairless tails that measure longer than its entire body. Scientifically pack rats are not true rats.

When wood rats nest in buildings they may utilize available foods within the building but most often they continue to feed outside. Pack rats get their unusual name from their habit of stealing and storing household items. Roof rats are not as common as norway rats. Roof rats are typically dark brown almost black in color with tails that are longer than their bodies.

Roof rats rattus rattus are most likely to be found nesting in attics and other high up places such as ceilings tall cabinets and the inside of walls. They re typically found within 100 miles of the gulf coastline or the coastline of the western united states. They can easily make their way up trees and often do so to gain access to residences and businesses through rooftops. Pack rat nests also harbor diseases other pests such as kissing bugs brown spiders mice and scorpions.

These rats originated in asia and are usually referred to as old world rats. Roof rats have black fur not as coarse as the coats of norway rats. Also known as black rats roof rats have black or dark brown colored fur with a lighter underside. As a forager the az pack rat has a tendency to gather small shiny objects.

How to identify pack rats. Facts about rats roof rat or black rat. They make nests out of branches sticks and other forms of rubble. The tendency to stash things attracts lice fleas snakes spiders and other critters.

Those of the rattus genus the most well known being the roof rat and the norway rat are considered direct relatives and true rats. A pack rat has brownish grey fur on its back and sides with a lighter underbelly. All true rats belong to the genus rattus and include such notable characters as the black rat rattus rattus often called roof rats and the brown rat rattus norvegicus often called norway rats. Pack rats are not true rats.

In simple terms muskrats look much more like beavers than they do rats. They are about 30cm long and their tails account for half of their length. Whereas the pack rat is not actually a rat. Pack rats carry diseases including the plague and their dens and droppings are also a health hazard.