Rats
Identification of small mammals from photos is uncertain. It helps to have multiple photos, preferably with a scale in all images, showing: the ratio of tail-length to body-length; the nature of the ears, including how far the ear lobe will reach, in relation to the eye, when the ear lobe is folded forward; the pads under the hind feet; the fur above and below the body, any markings on the head or face; and the scales and fur on the tail.
Announcements
Hello NatureMaprs!Three new priority species lists of exotic freshwater and terrestrial invertebrates, and vertebrates in the ACT have been added to NatureMapr. Uploading records of these species to N...
Continue reading
NatureMapr now receives more records in NSW than ACT
NatureMapr Data Collector 6.2.1 update
Critical nature positive infrastructure update
IMPORTANT NatureMapr Data Collector 6.2.0 mobile app update
Discussion
Hydromys chrysogaster
Sorry to say that if it is a rat in that location it will be 99% sure to be a Black/Roof/Ship Rat (Rattus rattus). (unless it was transported from far away). But a good photo(s) will tell us for sure. Moribund rats near settlement are victims of anti-coagulant rodenticides. Alive or dead, they are lethal to owls and other birds which eat them. If it is still alive the best thing is to pick it up in a towel or other thick cloth, humanely kill it, or get someone to do that for you, then dispose of the carcass in some way that animals cannot get it. Black Rats are in most of the Canberra houses built more than 30 years ago, especially if there are chooks kept anywhere nearby, if birds are fed or if there are compost heaps. But they are often undetected.
Rattus rattus
Thanks for the advice re poison.
Rattus rattus
At the risk of telling what you already know, there is not necessarily any need to take action against Black Rats. They are widespread in urban and many bush areas. If action is taken, it is necessary to be careful, especially in a bushy place like yours. Our regulators (APVMA) have let us down in that the most widely used rodent control methods are a real threat to wildlife, especially owls and other birds. Please dont bait with '2nd generation' anticoagulants such as Brodifacoum. If you bait at all, only use Warfarin. Any moribund animals or carcasses are toxic to birds so dispose of them where wildlife cannot get them. The better solutions are like the one illustrated in the photo, e.g. wherever possible make things inaccessible to rodents (well sealed door) in preference to killing them, and to some degree accept them. They are probably present in most older houses but the human residents are mostly unaware of them.
Rattus rattus
Rattus rattus
Top contributors
- AustralianPlatypusConservancy 204
- Waterwatch 131
- Gaia 54
- RodDeb 27
- AlisonMilton 24
- davidcunninghamwildlife 15
- rawshorty 14
- Christine 11
- MB 11
- LisaH 9
Top moderators
- DonFletcher 150
- Waterwatch 139
- MichaelMulvaney 71
- MichaelBedingfield 70
- Gaia 56
- Liam.m 30
- BelindaWilson 10
- davidcunninghamwildlife 10
- PotorooProject 7
- Darcy 5
