# Brown Rat (*Rattus norvegicus*) Brown rats are clever little animals that live all around the world. They have long tails and love to explore their homes, often in cities and farms. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 51 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Common Rat, Street Rat ![Brown Rat](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426577/objects/53.jpg) ## Appearance The Brown Rat is a medium-sized rodent with shaggy, coarse fur that is typically brown or greyish-brown on its back and lighter grey or white on its belly. It has a thick, scaly, hairless tail usually shorter than its body, small ears, and a blunt snout, distinguishing it from the longer-tailed Black Rat. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Muridae - **Genus:** Rattus ## Interesting facts - A female brown rat can have up to seven litters of babies in a single year! - Brown rats are excellent communicators, using squeaks, hisses, and even body language! - Their whiskers are super sensitive, helping them 'feel' their way around in the dark. - They learn quickly by watching other rats, like how to open tricky food containers. ## Special abilities - **Master Diggers:** Brown Rats can dig complex burrow systems because they have strong claws and teeth that help them create shelter and escape routes. - **Taste Detectives:** Brown Rats have an excellent sense of smell and taste that helps them detect poisons and find nutritious food sources. - **Chewing Champions:** Brown Rats can gnaw through tough materials because their incisor teeth constantly grow and are incredibly strong. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 15-28 cm - **Weight:** 0.15-0.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-3 years - **Speed:** 12 km/h - **Litter Size:** 6-12 - **Gestation:** 21-23 days ## Diet & Feeding Brown rats are omnivores, meaning they eat almost anything, from plants to meat! - **Primary Foods:** Grains, Seeds, Fruits, Insects, Meat scraps, Pet food - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Dog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-dog) (*Canis familiaris*) — Domesticated dogs frequently hunt brown rats. - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Cat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-cat) (*Felis catus*) — Domestic cats often prey on brown rats. - **Eaten by:** [Barn Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barn-owl) (*Tyto alba*) — Barn owls hunt brown rats in open country. - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — Great horned owls are powerful predators of rats. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not touch wild rats; they can carry germs. Always watch from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Brown Rat? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Brown Rat? 15-28 cm ### How much does Brown Rat weigh? 0.15-0.5 kg ### How long does Brown Rat live? 1-3 years ### How fast can Brown Rat move? 12 km/h ### What does Brown Rat eat? Brown rats are omnivores, meaning they eat almost anything, from plants to meat! ### Where is Brown Rat usually found? Urban areas ### How does Brown Rat hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Canal Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/canal-park) — District of Columbia, US · Park - [Cleveland Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cleveland-park) — District of Columbia, US · Neighborhood - [East Potomac Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-potomac-park) — District of Columbia, US · Park - [Lafayette Square Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lafayette-square-historic-district) — District of Columbia, US · Historic District - [Pioneer Square](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pioneer-square) — Washington, US · Neighborhood - [West Potomac Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/west-potomac-park) — District of Columbia, US · Park [View all places to see Brown Rat](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/brown-rat) ## Watch - [Play video: Brown Rat](https://www.snappit.app/videos/brown-rat) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=u8ea2ZrUkl8) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Brown Rat: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-rat)