Roof Rats Nz

The most common rats in new zealand are the ship rat roof rat rattus rattus and the water rat rattus norvegicus.

Roof rats nz.

What you ll want to look for are any signs that the rats are present including droppings tracks gnaw marks burrows runways and rodent sounds. Ship rats are widespread around new zealand on the three main islands and on many offshore islands. Noises in the attic are worrying and can be an indication that rodents or other wildlife may be living in your roof. Scratching scurrying noises usually heard at dusk and dawn.

The black rat does not build burrows and will nest in trees or in the voids of homes and other buildings. Get rid of roof rats in four basic steps. It has a tail that is longer than its body and ears that cover the eyes when pressed forward. Rats being pretty clever.

Attics lofts or ceiling cavities are ideal environments for possums rats and mice who damage stored items and electric cabling by gnawing and possibly causing fires they are also ideal environments for nesting birds that can spread disease mites and fleas. The mouse mus musculus the roof rat rattus rattus also known as the ship rat and black rat the norway rat rattus norvegicus also known as the water rat and the kiore rattus exulans also known as the pacific rat. Rats may find their way onto the roof by climbing overhanging trees. Both roof rats and norway rats a stockier variety of rat can infest homes.

Step 1 in order to assess the severity of the rat problem and to get a better idea of where to bait and trap you will first need to perform a thorough inspection of the premises. It likely originated in the indian subcontinent but is now found worldwide. Rodent identification there are four species of pest rodent in new zealand. The black rat is black to light brown in colour with a lighter underside.

Videos and tip offs to newstips stuff co nz. The ship rat rattus rattus is the most commonly found rat in new zealand and is the smaller of the two european rat species. How to tell them apart. Rat signs to look out for.

It s just that time of year when our commensalist friends the rats and mice come flocking indoors and around our houses to gain shelter food and water over the cooler period. You may think that the mouse would be easily distinguished because it is. Trees more than half a metre from the roof line should also be watched. It is a generalist omnivore and a serious pest to farmers because it.

The black rat rattus rattus also known as ship rat roof rat or house rat is a common long tailed rodent of the stereotypical rat genus rattus in the subfamily murinae. Roof rats are known by a variety of other names including palm rats fruit rats ship rats and alexandrian rats.