Thread: Mouse, rat or something native?

Ratus something
We get heaps of them around our place,we call them bush rats,they are often native.Very hard to catch,when you do get them in traps,they are often the young ones,the older ones are too smart

Carpet snakes keep them away.We had one around for ages & saw very few rats around.It got into the house one night & gave SWIMBO the fright of her life.I relocated it to the local state forest,and now the rats are back

I'm no David Rabbitborough, but as a general rule, if the tail is longer than the body, it isn't a native. Most probably rattus rattus (ship rat, sewer rat).
So, if tail is same length or shorter than body, most probably a native Rattus fuscipes (bush rat)

Our Landy the Lab couldn't catch a rat if he tried.
Cheers

Originally Posted by bent

I'm no David Rabbitborough, but as a general rule, if the tail is longer than the body, it isn't a native. Most probably rattus rattus (ship rat, sewer rat).
So, if tail is same length or shorter than body, most probably a native Rattus fuscipes (bush rat)

Our Landy the Lab couldn't catch a rat if he tried.
Cheers

Correction: Tail is say 1.5 times the body length, but no more. Some quick research makes me think its either a native swamp rat or a regular black rat (although the tail should be longer I think).

Originally Posted by bent

I'm no David Rabbitborough, but as a general rule, if the tail is longer than the body, it isn't a native. Most probably rattus rattus (ship rat, sewer rat).
So, if tail is same length or shorter than body, most probably a native Rattus fuscipes (bush rat)

Our Landy the Lab couldn't catch a rat if he tried.
Cheers

Wow, imagine what we could learn if you were Mr Rabbitburra.

Looks like your average feral rat to me
It's not native

Dougall 3, rats nil. After killing the first one outright, the 2nd died of injuries and then some time later Dougall bought out one he'd prepared earlier (eewww!), like some days ago.

The apprentices were not happy about the bin duty but I explained to the lads that critically important to securing a mate was the ability to kill and dispose of unwanted creatures

They didn't accept this theory but as it was pocket money day, I won

Ratus norvegicus, the brown rat,
introduced and as the saying goes, one above ground = ten below.

If you have anything native living in your garden, leave it be. though I appretiate it is difficult to control the brown rats without hitting the native stuff as well, but do your best!

probably the best way is to locate the holes and place bait directly in the tunnel and seal the entrance. Be carefull with your dog though as sometimes the rats will re-dig the entrance and not eat the bait!!

Originally Posted by Numpty's Missus

His name would be Warren Rabbitburra, not Richard
Wouldn't it?

What do you call a man with 12 rabbits up his bum?

Not game to go there