Rattus rattus

Black Rat at Michelago, NSW

Rattus rattus at Michelago, NSW - 7 May 2024
Rattus rattus at Michelago, NSW - 7 May 2024
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Identification history

Rattus rattus 12 May 2024 DonFletcher
Unidentified 12 May 2024 UsersUWsAKny

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User's notes

Query native rat?

1 comment

DonFletcher wrote:
   12 May 2024
Hi @UsersUWsAKny, rodents are not as easy to identify from photos as say birds. These are good, sharp, well lit photos (thanks) but there are some more things that can help, including a photo that enables tail length to be compared to head-body length. The following list is on NaturMapr under 'Rodents'

PHOTOGRAPHY OF SMAL MAMMALS FOR IDENTIFICATION
Most photos of small terrestrial mammals submitted to Canberra Nature Map for identification that were photographed in the Canberra suburban area are of a Black Rat (Rattus rattus). The next most likely species is the House Mouse (Mus musculus). Outside the city, at present, photos of Black Rats outnumber all other small mammal photos combined. However you may have found something different. Here are some tips for what to include in your photos to increase the potential for correct identification:
An image that is sharp, not blurry;
A scale;
A view of the whole animal (preferably stretched out if it is a carcass);
Views of every surface - (not always possible but ideally this includes a profile of the head, good views of the ears, the belly, the pads on the hind feet, and a good view of the fur and skin on the tail from below and above);
Views of the teeth; and
A count of the number of teats.
Also:
ANTI-COAGULANT POISONING
Most rats seen about in daytime are moribund due to baiting with anti-coagulant toxins such as Brodifacoum. As such they are attractive to birds such as owls and raptors, which are very sensitive to 2nd generation anti-coagulants such as Brodifacoum. 1st gen products such as Warfarin are less dangerous. Such rats should be picked up with a towel, then humanely killed. All carcasses should be disposed of where animals cannot get them. A better approach is to rodent-proof items such as compost containers and hen houses and to use traps rather than baits. New age 'deterrents' such as Ultra-sonic or perfumed devices do not work.

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 1 - 3 Abundance
  • 7 May 2024 04:51 PM Recorded on
  • UsersUWsAKny Recorded by

Species information

  • Rattus rattus Scientific name
  • Black Rat Common name
  • Not Sensitive
  • Exotic
  • Non-Invasive
  • Up to 1019.83m Recorded at altitude
  • 107 images trained Machine learning
  • External link More information

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
2,158,668 sightings of 20,008 species in 6,547 locations from 11,688 contributors
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