The Norway Rat

This week, we're going to talk about the Norway Rat. This rat is the most common rat found in cities today. An interesting tidbit on the Norway Rat? It is NOT originally from Norway! The rat actually came out of Central Asia and was most likely classified in Norway, thus the name "Norway Rat."

Aww, so cute right?

This rat is one of the larger rats that can be found: an average adult is on average 16 inches in length (including tail) and about 12 ounces. The media really enjoys making these rats out to be bigger than they actually are. In fact, the largest Norway Rat ever found was in North Carolina, and it weighed 1.36 pounds!

What are other common names for the Noway Rat, you may be asking. Common names include: brown rat, sewer rat, barn rat, wharf rat, and water rat. Yes, these are the rats that are equally as common off a boat (how they came to America) as they are in the sewer in the city, as the are in a barn in the country.

Next post will be about what to look for in regards to knowing if you have rats. Check back soon!!