Rattus rattus

Hi TmacPictures, thank you for troubling to post this to CNM.
I can't tell size of the animal but I think it is most likely a Black Rat, Rattus rattus (possibly a juvenile), based on: fur colour with black guard hairs, tail length in relation to head-body, scaly tail sparsely haired and evenly coloured, width of hind feet, large rounded ears. A look at the soles of the hind feet and a count of teats could have helped.

TmacPictures, could you please check the capture location (showing in the bush on Mt Jerrabomberra) and correct if necessary, as it does not seem to fit with being in a house.

@DonFletcher
It was in a very nearby house, i'm not allowed to post exact location address of the house, even in private mode, only very close (within a few hundred meters at nearest) at the very nearby / next-to bushland - as per house owners in instructions for their total personal & home safety & privacy. They don't use internet, so I often take photos & post stuff on their behalf, whilst respecting their home safety & privacy wishes. They mainly just want to get an idea, of what things may be - helpful or pest or potential pest - native / not native, etc, so we can find out more about the things, & look up what we can do to repel or encourage more - depending if native & wanted, or exotic pest & not wanted. Only if we get a rough idea, can we research, or me research for them - to learn some things on what to do.

It was then released a few hundred meters away, in that bushland of Mt Jerra, a 300m - 700m away from the nearby houses, to hopefully, be prey to birds or something.
It was very small, size of a house mouse, in body, maybe 2-4cm, standard, maybe.
When exiting the trap, it was fast - a jump maybe about 20-25cm high & 40-50cm long, jump started about center of the trap. So it was a good & fast jumping. & darting fast at running - so you not sure if you saw something out the corner of your eye, or was it just your imagination - style fast.

The silver metal trap length is about 18-20cm long, 12-15cm wide, (inc. Trap entry doors). & 2-3cm high, with 2 entry points. - to help give an estimation of rodent size.

The house did have 1 briefly seen large adult brown rat (likely came up an outdoor drain pipe in the big wet we had) & was briefly seen a month or so ago, that was squished in a big rat trap, not long after. The house also had grey-only house mice a few times in the past, a fair while ago. but not a brown-ish or striped, or black tailed, house mouse size before, I don't think. (similar size to the small greys).



Thanks to this site, & some answers provided to images / descriptions, I've been able to research / find out more about helpful bugs / plants / critters & harmful pests - & how some can look similar too. & What to watch out for - good & bad. Never would have thought so many species of some things! Hopefully we can one-day learn to create a garden / yard to invite wanted natives & repel pests, especially exotic pests.

Thanks TmacPictures. As long as it is only within 200m of the house, you probably are not doing much ecological harm by releasing terrestrial animals from the house and garden into the bush. But it is important not to do it with plants, or aquatic animals. And please don't take them further into the bush. And when you post false locations, for whatever reason, please make a comment to indicate how far away from the true location it is (within a few metres, within a few hundred metres, within a few hundred kilometers. etc.)