Biology |
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Pest Significance |
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Excellent senses of touch, taste, smell and
hearing. Poor vision. Active burrower. Strong swimmer. New object wary
(Neophobia). Food sources include garbage in urban areas and cereal or root crops in
arable areas. |
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Rattus norvegicus -
The Common Rat |
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Main UK rat pest species. Increasingly
important in urban areas, this species has adapted readily to environments with close
proximity to large human populations. Also problematic when newly introduced on
small islands. |
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Habitat |
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BODY LENGTH: |
20-27cm |
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TAIL LENGTH: |
16.5-20.5cm |
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WEIGHT: |
335g (100 -
500g) |
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COLOUR: |
BROWN
(VARIABLE) |
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SEXUALLY MATURE |
8 - 12 WEEKS |
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GESTATION
PERIOD |
21 - 24 DAYS |
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AV. LITTER SIZE |
6 - 11 |
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LITTERS / YEAR |
4 - 6 |
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WEANING PERIOD |
3 - 4 WEEKS |
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Control |
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Often found beside water, on the banks of
streams and ditches. Sewers also provide habitat, and access to street level feeding
areas, particularly in cities. |
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Usually involves use of well protected
anticoagulant bait. Other means may be used, such as acute baits, or physical
control methods. Monitoring is also critical for successful management of common rat
populations |
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