# Norway Rat (*Rattus norvegicus*) Norway rats are clever little creatures that like to live near people. They have long tails and big ears, making them great at exploring their surroundings. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low ![Norway Rat](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424477/objects/4485.jpg) ## Appearance The Norway Rat has a stocky body with rough, grey-brown fur on its back and lighter, often greyish-white fur underneath. It has a blunt snout, small eyes, and small ears that are partially hidden by its fur. Its scaly tail is typically shorter than its head and body combined. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Muridae - **Genus:** Rattus ## Interesting facts - A single female Norway rat can have up to 60 babies in one year! - Norway rats communicate using sounds too high for human ears to detect! - Rats use their long, scaly tails to help them balance while climbing or running! - They can survive falls from buildings over 50 feet tall without getting hurt! ## Special abilities - **Aquatic Adventurer:** Norway Rat can hold its breath for minutes and close its nostrils, allowing it to swim through sewers and pipes. - **Master Gnawer:** Norway Rat has strong, ever-growing teeth, letting it chew through wood or plastic to reach food and shelter. - **Stealthy Navigator:** Norway Rat has excellent senses of smell and touch with its whiskers, helping it navigate dark, complex environments. - **Super Survivor:** Norway Rat has incredible adaptability, allowing it to thrive in almost any environment from cities to farms. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 20-30 cm - **Weight:** 0.2-0.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-3 years - **Speed:** 13 km/h - **Litter Size:** 6-12 - **Gestation:** 21-23 days ## Diet & Feeding Omnivores, Norway Rats eat almost anything they can find, from seeds to meat scraps and trash! - **Primary Foods:** Grains, Seeds, Insects, Meat scraps, Fruits, Human waste - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Cat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-cat) (*Felis catus*) — Often preyed upon by household cats in urban environments. - **Eaten by:** [Barn Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barn-owl) (*Tyto alba*) — A common nocturnal predator of Norway Rats in rural areas. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Frequently hunts Norway Rats in both rural and suburban settings. - **Eats:** Common Wheat (*Triticum aestivum*) — Consumes grains, often causing agricultural damage. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Whiskered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/whiskered): Possessing prominent sensory hairs or vibrissae, often around the snout. - [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. - [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. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low While Norway rats are usually not dangerous, it's best to admire them from a distance and not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Norway 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 Norway Rat? 20-30 cm ### How much does Norway Rat weigh? 0.2-0.5 kg ### How long does Norway Rat live? 2-3 years ### How fast can Norway Rat move? 13 km/h ### What does Norway Rat eat? Omnivores, Norway Rats eat almost anything they can find, from seeds to meat scraps and trash! ### How does Norway Rat hunt? Foraging ### How many babies does Norway Rat usually have? 6-12 ## Where to spot - [City Hall Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/city-hall-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Gas Works Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gas-works-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Aqueduct Walk](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/aqueduct-walk) — New York, US · Park - [Lake Union Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-union-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Clarence H. Clark Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clarence-h-clark-park) — Pennsylvania, US · Park - [Governors Island](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/governors-island) — New York, US · Natural Landmark [View all places to see Norway Rat](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/norway-rat) ## 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: [Norway Rat: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/norway-rat)