Rat
Description
The head and the body are seven to ten inches long and the tail is an additional six to eight inches. It has a stocky body and weighs seven to eighteen ounces. The fur is coarse, shaggy and brown with some black hairs. The muzzle is blunt, eyes and ears are small, and the tail is shorter than the head and the body combined. Droppings are up to 3/4" long.
Habitat
Rats are nocturnal. They are shy about new objects and very cautios when things change in their environment. Rats prefer to nest in burrows in the soil, under side-walks and around streams and rivers. Rats can enter a structure through a 1/2" hole. In buildings, they prefer to nest in lower structures such as basements, and crawl spaces. They prefer to eat meat, fish and cereals.
Hazards
* Are associated with various diseases.
* Can cause contamination of foods and air systems.
