If you saw a mink in your garden plot, it means rodent pests have come to visit you. There are many varieties of earth-burrowing animals, and all of them are dangerous for the economy in their own way. Depending on the type of species you belong to, you should also develop a method for controlling rodents. Descriptions and photos will help identify them.

Signs of rodents. What you need to know about them

Rodents are hares, rats, mice, etc. There are more than 1,700 species of them. All wild species also belong to the category of rodent pests, but not all of them can be found on the site. The ones you find at the dacha will be medium in size (8-35 cm). All rodents are capable of causing serious damage to the crops on your site. If they start in the garden, it is easy to determine by the following signs:

• damaged (gnawed) bark on the trunk and shoots, branches, buds, roots;
• a network of holes in the ground, eating underground elements of bulbous plants;
• destruction of the crop during ripening and its reserves during storage.

Attention! Shrews and moles, which do not fall into the category of rodents, are also considered garden pests. They are insectivores and cause damage to garden crops by digging into the root system. On the other hand, along the paths of these pests, mice enter the area en masse and attack the crop.

Pest mice: classification

Mice do not like people and rarely settle in houses, but they willingly come to inhabited and well-groomed areas for food. Types of rodent pests:

• Wood mouse. It has a body 9-11 cm in length and a short tail, up to 10 cm. Natural habitat: forests, gardens, fields, meadows. Digs a deep hole for life. Moves by jumping. The rodent's diet includes garden greens, seeds, and insects.
• Yellow-throated mouse. The body is 10-12 cm long with a rather long tail, up to 13 cm. In the area of ​​the rodent’s abdomen there is a characteristic yellow spot. This mouse also does not run, but jumps and climbs well. Lives in a nest, which it builds in hollows or burrows. It feeds in the same way as the forest one.
• Harvest mouse. Short body (average 10 cm), short tail (up to 9 cm), black line on a gray back. In winter, it inhabits warehouses and barns; in nature, it settles in fields, forests and gardens. The rodent is characterized by average fertility (4 litters of 6-8 mice per year). It feeds on earthworms and fruitful garden crops.
• House mouse. Body length - 8-11 cm, tail - no more than 9 cm. Very fertile (up to 7-8 litters of 8 cubs per year). A group of mice lives in large families that unitely attack areas and people’s homes. They live in fields and gardens, and in the fall they move to residential buildings. Rodent pests feed on plants and invertebrates.

Voles: varieties and harm

The vole has similar characteristics to other mice. Its peculiarity is a dark stripe on the back, slight differences in the muzzle, and a shorter tail. Classification of rodent pest species with names:

• Common vole. The body is about 9-12 cm long and has a very short tail (4 cm). The fur is gray. The rodent reproduces intensively. Young mice reach sexual maturity very quickly. Based on family connections, colonies arise, for which individuals build an extensive network of tunnels with storerooms and other compartments. The rodent feeds exclusively on plants and grain.

• Arable vole. The length of the body is about 11 cm, the tail is about 4 cm. It has looser and longer fur than that of the common vole. Color - brown. Rodent burrows should be looked for in dense grass. He loves plants and can covet the succulent bark of young trees.
• Red vole. Length - up to 11 cm, tail - up to 6 cm. It has characteristic red fur. It can live both underground and in some shelter on the surface. The rodent is not very fertile for mice. Eats bark, plants and grains, insects and invertebrates.

Other rodents and garden pests

Pests from the category of rodents are especially dangerous. Many of them can attack domestic animals, damage property, carry diseases and be aggressive towards humans. For example, the gray rat (pasyuk) reaches 27 cm in length and has a tail up to 23 cm. The fur can be gray or black. This rodent builds passages in almost any area.

Attention! The litter of one female gray rat is 6-9 individuals 2-3 times a year.

The black rat is slightly smaller in size and less fertile. The fur color contains brown colors. The rodent can even build a home on a tree, because it climbs well. Less dangerous than the gray one, since it prefers plant foods.

Gray rat

The water vole is sometimes classified as a rat. An adult reaches 20 cm. The tail lengthens the body by another 6-13 cm. The color of the rodent is brown-gray, sometimes black. It swims well (including under water), so it often settles near bodies of water. The dimensions allow the rodent to feed not only on garden herbs and seeds, but also on roots and root crops. The water rat builds its extensive network of passages under the surface of the earth. The litter is about 14 cubs 2-3 times a year.

Methods of fighting against mice and rats differ from each other. Therefore, by correctly identifying the type of rodent pest, you will find the best way to solve the problem.

Rodents on the site: video

Nobody knows when people first became acquainted with rats; this animal always lives next to us.

The rat belongs to mammals, to the order - rodents, suborder - mouse-like. The most common animal on the planet is the rat.

Appearance of the rat, description and characteristics

The body of the rat is oval-shaped and stocky. The body of the animal is from 8 cm to 30 cm, weighing up to 500 g, there are small ones weighing 37 grams.

The eyes and ears are small, the muzzle is sharp and elongated. Is the tail longer than the size of the rat's body, hairless or covered with fine hair? invisible to the human eye (a type of black rat has a tail with thick cover wool). There is a species of short-tailed rodents in the world.

A rat's teeth are arranged tightly together in rows and are designed for chewing food. These animals are omnivores; they differ from other predators in the absence of fangs and diastema - this is an area on the gums where there are no teeth.

There are no dental roots, so growth occurs continuously throughout the rat's life. For convenience, they need to constantly grind down their teeth, otherwise she will not be able to close her mouth.

The teeth are strong with hard yellow enamel, which makes it possible to easily chew through concrete, cement and hard various metals.

The rodent's body is covered with a thick, dense coat of guard hairs. The color range is varied, gray with different shades of dark or light, red, orange and even yellow.

These amazing animals have movable toes on their paws, so they easily climb trees and prepare nests in hollows for habitat.

Rats are very active and agile animals, running 17 km a day and jumping up to 1 meter in height. They swim well, are not afraid of water and can catch fish.

Rats often turn their heads different sides, because they have a small viewing angle, they see the world around them in gray tones.

Hearing functions perfectly, rats distinguish sounds with a frequency of up to 40 kHz (humans up to 20 kHz).

Life expectancy is from 1 year to 3 years. In laboratory conditions, rats can live 2 times longer.

Difference between rats and mice

Rats and mice are representatives of the same suborder, but they differ significantly in appearance and behavior.

The body of a mouse is small, up to 20 cm, weighing up to 50 grams, rats are twice as large, they are dense and muscular, weighing up to 900 grams.

Pronounced distinctive shapes of the head and eyes, in mice it is triangular and slightly flattened with large eyes, in rats the muzzle is elongated with small eyes.

A strong body and powerful toes allow rats to jump high up to 1 meter; mice cannot do such tricks.

Mice are cowardly animals and are afraid to appear in front of people, but this does not bother rats; they can defend themselves. There are many cases where they attacked a person.

Rats are omnivores, eating meat and plant foods. On the contrary, mice have a greater preference for cereals and seeds.

Habitat of rats and lifestyle

Large rats live all over the world except Antarctica and the polar regions. They live in groups, very rarely living alone.

Most often, groups consist of hundreds of individuals with one male at the head and two to three females. The territory of residence for each group is its own, extending up to 2 thousand square meters.

The diet depends on the habitat. Omnivorous rats eat approximately 25 grams of food per day, but without water it is difficult for them to maintain a daily moisture requirement of up to 35 ml.

Gray rats mainly feed on protein foods of animal origin, small rodents, toads, and chicks.

Black rats prefer food plant origin: green plants, nuts, fruits, cereals.

Rats are wary of pigs, hedgehogs, ferrets, dogs and cats - these are the main land enemies. Among the birds, the most feared and avoided rodents are the hawk, owl, eagle and kite.

Reproduction and lifespan of rats

Rats do not have a mating season; they can breed year-round. But the peak of sexual activity comes in spring and summer. The female mates with different males, pregnancy in rats lasts up to 24 days, and the lactating female carries the cubs for up to 34 days.

Rats prepare nests in advance and cover the bottom with soft grass, cloth, and paper for the birth of offspring. The cubs emerge naked and blind. When dead rat pups are born, the mother devours them; the number at birth can be up to 20.

The male can eat all the offspring if there are non-viable rat pups; he does not take part in caring for them. The female, on the contrary, provides meticulous care, feeds milk, licks the babies and removes debris from the nest.

After 17 days, the little rats open their eyes, and a month later they lead a full-fledged life on their own. Puberty begins after 3-4 months, and they can reproduce 6 months after birth. Life expectancy is up to two years.

Gray rats breed up to 8 times a year, but black rats breed only in the warm season. Today, experts estimate that there are 2 rats per person in the world.

Why are rats dangerous?

Rats are a disaster for all humanity. They gnaw through walls in the basements of houses, sewer pipes, damage electrical mains, and damage crops.

Rats are carriers of more than 20 infectious diseases, such as leptospirosis, plague, salmonellosis, pseudotuberculosis and others. Many are dangerously fatal to human life.

It is difficult to exterminate rats using chemicals because the animal’s body quickly adapts to the poison and develops protective immunity to toxins.

Rats are a pet

Rats are ideal pets. They quickly become tamed to humans and recognize their owner by the face.

Neat and clean animals do not require special care. They will give their owner many funny moments; they are very interesting to watch.

But don't forget the owner pet rat that this is a social animal and it is difficult for it to live alone. The rat definitely needs a mate, otherwise a mental disorder may develop.

Type of rat, name and photo

There are about 70 species of rats in the world, most of which are little studied; below are common species of rodents with brief description and a photo of a rat.

The gray rat (pasyuk) is one of the larger species, up to 25 cm long, the tail is not taken into account. Weight from 140 grams to 390 grams, with a wide, elongated muzzle. The gray coat of young animals becomes orange with age. It lives near water, in dense vegetation and digs holes up to 5 meters.

The black rat is smaller in size than the gray rat, with a much smaller muzzle and rounded ears. Body length up to 22 cm, weight about 300 grams. A significant difference between this species of rodent is the tail, which is densely covered with hair and 4-5 times longer than the size of the body.

Lives in Asia, Africa and Europe. For a long time can live without water, so it lives in dry places. The wool is black with a green tint.

The small rat differs from its fellows in size. Body length up to 15 cm maximum with body weight up to 80 grams. It has a brown coat color, a sharp muzzle and inconspicuous small ears. The tail is as long as the body without any signs of fur. Lives in South-East Asia.

The long-haired rat is characterized by long hair and high activity. Males grow up to 18 cm, and females up to 16 cm in length. The tail is 4-5 cm smaller in size from the body. Habitat in arid deserts.

The Turkestan rat lives in China, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan. The fur is red, the belly is pale yellow, the body length is up to 23 cm. This variety is similar to the gray one, but has a denser body and a wide head in size.

Black-tailed rat or rabbit. It has average dimensions up to 22 cm, weight about 190 grams.

An interesting feature of this type of tail is a tuft of hair at the tip.

The back is gray and brown with visible black hairs.

They live in Australia and New Guinea mainly in eucalyptus forests, dense grass and shrubs. They lead an active lifestyle at night and hide in burrows during the day.

Interesting and educational facts about the life of rats

In India there is a Karni Mata temple where rats are revered, cared for and protected. If the rules for caring for a sacred animal and killing it are violated, this person is obliged to bring a golden figurine in the form of a rat to the temple.

In some American states Hitting a rat with a baseball bat is prohibited and will result in a $1,000 fine.

In Asian and African countries, rats are considered a worthy delicacy for a festive dinner. Rat meat is considered a delicacy.

A gray rat eats up to 12 kg of various cereal products per year. Experts have calculated that every year about 6 kg of one farmer’s harvest is spent on feeding one rat.

More precisely, the largest species of this family.

The animal has size from 16.5 to 22 cm(of which the tail is 6-13 cm) and body weight from 180 to 380 grams.

The body is massive, with a large head and a blunt muzzle, small almost invisible ears. The tail is round, long, covered with fine hair.

In winter the coat is thick and long, in summer it is short and sparse. Rats that live in different habitats or are of different ages differ in the type of fur they have.

Back color - dark brown, with various shades, the belly is dirty white. Sometimes they meet completely black animals.

The toes on the front paws are short, ending in long, slightly curved claws. The hind legs are extended. Swims great.

Vivid photos of the earth rat:

Distribution and reproduction

The ground rat can be found in the European part of the country, the Caucasus, and Siberia (except for the regions of the Far North). A large number of rodents are concentrated in the south of Siberia and Central Asia.

For life selects damp places- along the banks of reservoirs, swamps and damp meadows. When the population is high, it can colonize gardens, fields and orchards.

During floods, it migrates, moving to drier and more convenient places to live.

REFERENCE! Often lives in populated areas, settling in personal plots and creating passages in thin walls and under the floor.

IN southern regions under comfortable conditions, the ground rat can reproduce all year round. In other places, the process occurs from spring to autumn, two or three times.

The number of individuals in the offspring depends on the lifespan of the animal - the older the female, the more cubs she can bear. The offspring are bred underground, in a separate equipped place.

When they reach the age of one month, the young begin to live independently.

Under optimal conditions, the number of ground rats increases several times, and their number can reach 400 animals per hectare fields.

Lifestyle

Rodent exhibits activity all year round , spends almost all of its time underground in winter. By time of day, the greatest activity is concentrated in the evening and at night.

It emerges from the hole only for a short period of time, moving away a short distance - as a rule, while eating plants on the ground.

During the hottest summer and winter clogs holes from the inside. The earth produced by digging passages is thrown to the surface, forming small, flat piles of varying sizes and at varying distances from the exit point.

Underground passages are located 10-15 cm from the ground surface. The nest usually consists of an extensive network of labyrinths, a nesting chamber and several storehouses with supplies.

REFERENCE! If moles live near the habitat of an earthen rat, then they can use the moles’ ready-dug passages to quickly get to the roots and tubers.

Differences from other rodents

From earthen distinguished by soft wool and a shorter tail without ring scales.

They are distinguished by the smaller size of the underground passages, which also have an irregular shape. Also, rats do not hibernate in winter.

Traces are similar to fingerprints, but have longer length step - 6-8 cm.

Harm to a human farmer and ways to combat it

Burrowing holes, it immediately eats all the food it encounters. The ground rat destroys alfalfa most of all, and also causes significant damage to rice during the ripening period, cotton, wheat, barley, and some melons, including watermelons and melons.

Also harms young trees, gnawing them underground at the root collar or seriously gnawing the bark - it especially often “goes to” bird cherry, apple trees, and willow.

Eats small animals - field mice, crayfish, mollusks, insects and others. Swims deftly and climbs trees, destroying birds' nests.

It can settle in human dwellings, where it eats food and feed. Can gnaw through adobe walls and make passages under the floor.

The natural enemies of the ground rat are dogs, cats, jackals, foxes, weasels and many other predatory species, as well as birds - owls, eagles, hen harriers.

REFERENCE! Control methods are different, and they can be divided into radical, when the goal is the complete destruction of the rodent, and humane, if you need to drive the rat out of its habitat.

• Mechanical devices- this includes all kinds of traps, traps, scarers;
• Animals- several cats in an area where earth rats live will not be able to catch the entire population, but they can scare away the rodents and force them to leave their habitat;
• Chemical substances- spraying of poisonous gases is used: carbon monoxide, chlorine, or substances are sprayed onto the soil, licking which the rat will die.

Radical methods- traps and poisons are used when there is not much time to scare away. However, it is worth keeping in mind that rats are smart animals and will not approach the mechanism if they see that someone has died in it.

In addition, radical methods can also harm other animals and plants nearby.

Humane methods involve repelling rodents:

• Ultrasonic repellers- installation of ultrasound-generating devices on the site. It happens that some rodents do not react to it, and also adapt to a constant irritant;
• Smoking- substances that produce a pungent, unpleasant odor are placed in the burrows. This could be singed wool, bunches of wormwood or mint. One interesting solution is to plant black elderberry on the plot, the roots of which release cyanide into the soil, poisonous to rats;
• Filling holes with water- earth rats swim well, however, they will have to leave such a habitat.

IMPORTANT! There is no need to hesitate when you find an earthen rat on your property; you must choose how to get rid of it yourself, but you should not leave things to chance - the more time passes, the larger their population becomes, which means it will be more difficult to completely get rid of the rodents.

Conclusion

The earth rat is a dangerous rodent that lives on the banks of rivers, swamps, as well as in vegetable gardens and fields. Lives underground, where it digs labyrinthine passages.

Destroys plantings rice, barley, wheat, cotton, young trees. Methods of controlling rodents are varied and are divided into radical (traps, poisonous gases and bait) and humane (repellents, damage to burrows).

Video

In the video you can clearly see the earth rat in the water:

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

The black rat prefers areas near rivers and lakes, but is not attached to it. It swims poorly, does not dig holes in the ground, does not try to get into human habitation, is found in forests, fields, edges, and is less common in cities. The spread of this occurs mainly thanks to humans. The black rat is a constant companion of sea vessels and ships.

Appearance

• body length does not exceed 22 cm;
• the tail is always longer - about 28 cm;
• body weight from 130 g to 300 g;
• the ears are small, but wide at the base, round, more like a mouse’s;
• the muzzle is elongated, round eyes are clearly visible.

The coat consists of an undercoat and long, hard outer hairs. The color is black with a greenish tint, but it can also be dark gray, like Pasyuk. On the sides the coat is always lighter – dirty gray in color. The tail is long, scaly, and completely covered with long black hairs. There is a small brush at the tip.

The color of the black rat differs depending on the region where it lives. Southern representatives are always lighter. Northern rats are black with a brilliant green tint.

Interesting!

The description of a black rat is always compared to a pasyuk. These are the main competitors who do not get along well in the same territory. Gray relatives are superior in numbers, size, predatory habits, and ability to quickly adapt. But black rats are more resistant to poisons.

A photo of a black rat is presented below; you can clearly see the animal in all its glory.

Origin

Judging by the fossil remains, black rats originally lived in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. There is no consensus on how representatives appeared in Europe, but they could already be found on almost all continents during the ancient era. At the beginning of the 17th century, the rodent colonized the territory of Russia.

Within the family there are several subspecies:

• Asian;
• Ceylonese;
• Mauritian;
• Oceanic.

The Ceylonese lives on the island of Sri Lanka, while the Asian is distributed throughout the world.

Location

Where does the black rat live? interest Ask. The favorite habitat for the rodent is sea vessels. Rats live side by side with humans and eat identical food. They spread around the globe thanks to water transport.

The black rat is less inventive than its relative the Pasyuk. Content with little. Settles near reservoirs and rivers. But it is less attached to water than the gray one. Does not build nests in the ground, avoids water, but if necessary, swims quite a long distance. It does not dive because fish, fry, and amphibians are of little interest to it.

Willingly settles in the forest, fields, and edges. The lifestyle is more reminiscent. In urban areas, it prefers sewers, abandoned buildings, garages, garbage cans, and entrances. Can live in a person’s house, occupying the upper floors or attic.

Lifestyle

The black rat builds nests in old hollows and trees. For construction he uses twigs, sticks, and moss. The rodent's house looks more like a magpie's nest. Often rodents simply occupy a ready-made nest, eating the legal inhabitants.

Black rats spend the day in the nest, hiding from sun rays. They intensify their activity after dark. They behave carefully. Because the natural enemies plenty of them - dogs, cats, hedgehogs, birds, wolves, foxes.

The black rat part can be seen on the tree. The rodent climbs well on horizontal and vertical surfaces. If necessary, climbs to the very top.

On a note!

IN old times settled in a man's house under a thatched roof. Modern rodents prefer attics. They share territory with pasyuki. The first live above, the second below under the floor.

Average life expectancy of an animal wildlife is 1 year. As pet lives up to 4 years.

Nutrition

The black rat can hardly be called a predator. The rodent prefers plant foods, plant seeds, grains, vegetables, and fruits. Protein foods make up a small part of the diet. Occasionally eats beetles, worms, and may covet bird eggs.

Interesting!

A rodent eats 15 g of food and 15 ml of water per day. Hunger is difficult to bear. In the absence of food, it can live no more than 2 weeks. If there is a shortage of water, it dies within a week.

Reproduction

Black rats are not as fertile as their pasyuki relatives. During the year, the female gives no more than 5 offspring under constant living conditions. In the wild, only 3 offspring are produced. With the onset of the cold season, sexual activity decreases.

There are from 3 to 11 cubs in one litter. In contrast to gray pasyuks, cannibalism is less developed. Females rarely eat the young, but protect the nest from the male. The animal enters into sexual contact with several males at once. Pregnancy lasts about 28 days.

Baby black rats

They are born naked, blind, deaf, with undeveloped limbs. But they have an excellent appetite, and significant physical transformations occur every day:

• within a week they become overgrown with fluff;
• after two - hearing appears, eyes open;
• within three weeks, the formation of the limbs and skeleton is completed, and the pups crawl out of the nest.

After a month, the cubs of black rats become independent, eating food typical for adults. They are expelled from the nest, but continue to live in the same colony. The female becomes sexually mature at 6 months.

Intrafamily relations

Rodents live in colonies, each with several hundred representatives. It is led by a male and several dominant females. Young females gain experience from older ones. They help raise children. Several females give birth to offspring in one nest. They feed together.

Misunderstandings often break out between males over the right to own a female, over food, and for other reasons. The defeated male tries to stay away from the winner. Each family is assigned an area of ​​about 2.5 sq.m.

Interesting!

Cannibalism occurs in black rats, but much less frequently than in gray pasyuki. The sailors had one barbaric method of fighting rodents. Several rats were placed in a barrel and starved to death. They began to eat each other, the most strong representative. The cannibal beast was released. He hunted his relatives, gradually eating one after another.

Harm to humans

Black and gray rats are equally dangerous to humans. Rodents spread terrible diseases, carry pathogens, worm eggs, and fleas. In the previous century, the black rat was the main carrier of plague.

They spoil and destroy food supplies. They get into warehouses, barns, storage rooms, cellars. In the spring, an invasion of black rats is dangerous due to gnawing on the bark of young trees and the death of plants. In the fall, the harvest is spoiled.

In the house, pests gnaw on walls, furniture, decorative items, and wall insulation. Rodents sharpen even what is not for them nutritional value to stop tooth growth.

Fighting methods

Relocation closer to a person’s home occurs when unfavorable conditions– lack of food, premature cold snap, forest fires.

• In gardens, trees are tied with belts to prevent rats, and glue or resin is applied.
• For destruction, they place it on a summer cottage.
• Chemicals are used on the territory of the house -,.
• If the premises are severely infested, specialists are called in.

Black rats are not characterized by seasonal population fluctuations. There are no widespread outbreaks of infection observed. It is advisable to use repellent methods to control pests. Use herbs, substances with a pungent odor,...

A rat is an animal of the class mammals, order rodents, suborder mouse-like.

The rat is considered one of the most widespread animals on the planet, and the fossil remains of the very first rats lay in the ground for several million years.

Rat - description, appearance and characteristics. What does a rat look like?

Rats have the oval body shape and stocky build characteristic of most rodents. The body length of an adult rat ranges from 8 to 30 cm (depending on the species), the weight of the rat varies from 37 g to 420 g (individual gray rats can weigh up to 500 grams).

The rat's muzzle is elongated and pointed, its eyes and ears are small. The tail of most species is practically naked, covered with sparse hairs and ring scales.

The black rat's tail is covered with thick fur. The length of the tail of most species is equal to the size of the body or even exceeds it (but there are also short-tailed rats).

The rodent's jaws contain 2 pairs of elongated incisors. Rat molars grow in dense rows and are designed for grinding food. Between the incisors and molars there is a diastema - an area of ​​the jaw where teeth do not grow. Despite the fact that rats are omnivores, they are distinguished from predators by the absence of fangs.

Animals' incisors need constant grinding, otherwise the rat simply will not be able to close its mouth. This feature is due to the absence of roots and the continuous growth of the incisors throughout the life of the animal. The front of the incisors are covered with hard enamel, but there is no enamel layer at the back, so the surface of the incisors is ground unevenly and takes on a characteristic shape reminiscent of a chisel. The teeth of rats are extremely strong and can easily gnaw through brick, concrete, hard metals and alloys, although they were originally intended by nature to eat plant foods.

The rat's fur is dense, relatively thick, with pronounced guard hairs.

The color of a rat's fur can be dark gray, gray-brown; in the color of some individuals, reddish, orange and yellow shades can be traced.

Rats have poorly developed calluses on their paws, which are necessary for rodents to climb, but the functional deficiency is compensated by mobile fingers.

Therefore, rats are capable of leading not only a terrestrial, but also a semi-arboreal lifestyle, climbing trees and making nests in abandoned hollows.

Rats are very active and resilient animals, they run well: in case of danger, the animal reaches speeds of up to 10 km/h, overcoming obstacles up to 1 meter high. A rat's daily exercise ranges from 8 to 17 km.

Rats swim and dive well, catch fish and can continuously stay in water for more than 3 days without harm to their health.

Rats' vision is poor and has a small viewing angle (only 16 degrees), which forces the animals to constantly turn their heads. The world Rodents perceive in shades of gray, and the color red represents complete darkness for them.

Hearing and smell function well: rats perceive sounds with a frequency of up to 40 kHz (for comparison: humans up to 20 kHz), and detect odors at short distances. But rats tolerate the effects of radiation very well (up to 300 roentgens/hour).

The lifespan of a rat in the wild depends on the species: gray rats live about 1.5 years, rare specimens can live up to 3 years, black rats live no more than a year.

In laboratory conditions, the life of a rodent increases by 2 times. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the oldest rat was 7 years and 8 months old at the time of death.

Despite the fact that both rodents are representatives of the same suborder of mice, the rat has significant differences in both appearance and behavior.

• The body length of a rat often reaches 30 cm, but a mouse cannot boast of such dimensions: the body length of an adult mouse does not exceed 15-20 cm. At the same time, the body of a rat is much denser and more muscular.
• The weight of an adult rat often reaches 850-900 g. A mouse weighs on average 25-50 g, but there are species whose weight can reach 80-100 g.
• The rat's muzzle is noticeably elongated, with an elongated nose. The shape of the mouse's head is triangular, the muzzle is slightly flattened.
• The tail of a rat and mouse can be either devoid of vegetation or covered with fur. It all depends on the type of rodent.
• A rat's eyes are quite small when compared with the size of its head, but a mouse's eyes are quite large compared to the size of its muzzle.
• The fur of rats can be either hard, with a pronounced awn, or soft (the genus of Asian soft-haired rats and the genus of soft-haired rats). The fur of many species of mice is soft and silky to the touch, but there are also mice with needles instead of wool (spiny mice), as well as wire-haired mice.
• Powerful legs and well-developed body muscles allow rats to jump perfectly, covering a height of 0.8 m, and in case of danger, 2 meters. Mice cannot perform such tricks, although some species can still jump to a height of 40-50 cm.
• Rats are much more careful than their smaller counterparts: an adult rat carefully examines the territory for danger before choosing a new habitat.
• Mice are cowardly, so they very rarely catch the eye and when they meet a person they immediately flee. Rats are not so timid, and sometimes even aggressive: cases have been recorded when these rodents attacked humans.
• Rats are absolutely omnivorous; their diet includes both meat and plant foods, and their favorite place to eat is landfills. household waste. Mice give preference to plant food, mainly cereal grains, all kinds of cereals, and seeds.

Enemies of rats

Natural enemies of rats are various birds (owl, kite and others).

Rats live almost everywhere: in Europe and Russia, in Asian countries, in North and South America, in Australia and Oceania (Rattus exulans species), in New Guinea and the island countries of the Malay Archipelago. These rodents are not found only in the polar and subpolar regions, in Antarctica.

Rat lifestyle

Rats lead both solitary and group existences. Within a colony of several hundred individuals, a complex hierarchy develops with a dominant male and several dominant females. The individual territory of each group can be up to 2 thousand square meters.

Rats are omnivores, and the diet of each species depends on its habitat and lifestyle. On average, each rat eats about 25 g of food per day, but rodents do not tolerate hunger well and inevitably die after 3-4 days of fasting. Animals experience the lack of water even worse: for normal existence, an animal needs 30-35 ml of water per day. When consuming wet food, the daily water intake is reduced to 10 ml.

Gray rats, due to their physiological need for high protein content, are more focused on eating food of animal origin. Gray rats practically do not store food.

The diet of the black rat consists mainly of plant foods: nuts, chestnuts, cereals, fruits and green plant matter.

Near people's homes, rats eat any available food. Rats that live far from human habitation feed on small rodents, mollusks and amphibians (,), and eat eggs and chicks from nests located on the ground. Residents of coastal areas consume emissions throughout the year marine flora and fauna. The rat's plant food consists of cereals, seeds and succulent parts of plants.

Types of rats, photos and names

Currently, the genus of rats numbers about 70 known species, most of which are little studied. Below are several types of rodents:

• , she's the same Pasyuk(Rattus norvegicus)

the largest species of rats in Russia, adults of which grow up to 17-25 cm in length (excluding the tail) and weigh from 140 to 390 g. The tail of rats, unlike most other species, is somewhat shorter than the body, and the muzzle is quite wide and has a blunt ending. Juveniles are colored grey colour, with age, the fur coat acquires a red tint, similar to the color of agouti. Among the general hair, the elongated and shiny guard hair is clearly distinguishable. The gray rat's fur on its belly is white with a dark base, so the color boundary can be seen very clearly. The gray pasyuk rat lives on all continents except Antarctica. Pasyuki prefer to settle near bodies of water overgrown with dense protective vegetation, where they dig and inhabit burrows up to 5 m long. They often live in wastelands, parks, landfills, basements and sewers. The main conditions of residence: proximity to water and availability of food.

• (Rattus rattus)

slightly smaller than the gray and differs from it in its narrower muzzle, large rounded ears and longer tail. The black rat's tail is longer than its body, while the gray rat's tail is shorter than its body. Adult black rats grow in length from 15 to 22 cm with a body weight from 132 to 300 g. The tail of representatives of the species is densely covered with hair and grows to 28.8 cm, which is 133% of the body length. Fur color is presented in 2 variants: black-brown back with a greenish tint, dark gray or ash-colored belly and lighter sides than the back. Another type resembles the coloration of the gray rat, but with a lighter, yellowish back and whitish or yellowish fur on the belly. The black rat inhabited the territory of all of Europe, most Asian countries, Africa, North and South America, but feels most comfortable in Australia, where the gray rat, on the contrary, is few in number. The black rat, unlike the gray rat, needs water less and can live in foothill areas, forest areas, gardens and prefers attics and roofs (hence the second name of the species - roof rat). The population of black rats makes up 75% of the total number of ship rats, since the animals are common inhabitants of sea and river vessels.

• Small rat(Rattus exulans)

the third most common species of rat in the world. It differs from its relatives, first of all, small in size body, growing to 11.5-15 cm in length with a weight of 40 to 80 g. The species is characterized by a compact shortened body, a sharp muzzle, large ears and brown fur color. Thin naked tail of a rat equal to length body and is covered with many characteristic rings. The rat lives in the countries of Southeast Asia and Oceania.

• (Rattus villosissimus)

characterized by long hair and increased reproductive rates. Males typically grow to a length of 187 mm with a tail length of 150 mm. Females have a length of 167 mm, the length of the tail reaches 141 mm. Average weight males - 156 g, females - 112 g. The species is distributed exclusively in the arid and desert regions of central and northern Australia.

• Kinabuli rat(Rattus baluensis)

a unique species of rat, which is in close symbiosis with the predatory tropical plant Nepenthes Raja - the largest carnivorous representative of the world flora. The plant attracts rats with its sweet secretion, and in return receives their excrement from the rodents. This type of rat is common in the mountainous and forested areas of the northern part of the island of Borneo.

• Rattus andamanensis

lives in the following countries: Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam. The back of the rodent is brownish, the abdomen is white. It lives in forests, but often appears on agricultural lands and near human houses.

• Turkestan rat ( Rattus pyctoris, previously Rattus turkestanicus)

lives in countries such as Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Nepal, Pakistan. The body length of a rat without a tail is 16.8-23 cm, the length of the tail reaches 16.7-21.5 cm. The back of the rodent is reddish-brown in color, the abdomen is yellowish-white. The animal's ears are covered with short, thick fur. The Turkestan rat is similar to the gray rat, but its head is wider and its body is denser.

• Silver belly rat ( Rattus argentiventer)

has ocher-brown fur interspersed with black hairs. The belly is gray, the sides are light, the tail is brown. The length of the rat is 30-40 cm, the length of the tail is 14-20 cm. The length of the head is 37-41 mm. The average weight of a rat is 97-219 grams.

• Black-tailed rat (furry-tailed rabbit rat) ( Conilurus penicillatus)

a medium-sized rodent: body length varies from 15 to 22 centimeters, the weight of the rat does not exceed 190 grams. The animal's tail is sometimes longer than the body, can reach 23 cm, and is crowned with a tuft of hair at the tip. The color of the back is dominated by gray-brown tones interspersed with black hairs, the color of the abdomen and hind legs is slightly whitish. The coat is not too thick and hard to the touch. Black-tailed rats live in Australia and Papua New Guinea. The rat chooses eucalyptus forests, savanna areas with thick grass or rich undergrowth of shrubs as their place of residence. The rodent's lifestyle is semi-arboreal: females make cozy nests in the depths of branches or use tree hollows. The rabbit rat is active at night; during the day it prefers to hide in its home. The rat eats mainly food of plant origin (grass seeds, leaves, tree fruits), but will not refuse delicacies in the form of small invertebrates.

• Soft furred rat (Millardia meltada )

lives in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, East Pakistan. The body length of the rat is 80-200 mm, the tail length is 68-185 mm. The rat's fur is soft and silky, gray-brown on the back, white on the belly. The upper part of the tail is dark gray, the lower part is white. The length of the tail is usually equal to or shorter than the length of the body. The animal lives in fields, pastures, and near swamps.

• Tanned rat(Rattus adustus)

an exceptional species, the only representative of which was found in 1940. The individual was discovered on the island of Engano, located in Indian Ocean 100 km from the southwestern coast of the island of Sumatra. According to some sources, the tanned rat got its name due to the original color of its fur, which looks singed.