Rat Identification

Types of Rats in Quebec

Norway Rat

Size: About 20 to 25 cm long (excluding tail)
Color: Brownish-gray
Appearance: Robust body, tail shorter than the body
Attractions: Abundant food (waste, pet food), shelters in basements or debris piles, wet areas for water
Detection Element: Droppings, scratch marks, noises under floors, in walls or ceilings

Physical Description

The Norway Rat, also known as the brown rat, is robust and large, measuring up to 40 cm long including the tail. Its fur is usually grayish-brown, with a lighter belly. It has short ears and a blunt muzzle.

Habitat

This rat is very common in urban and suburban areas of Quebec, including downtown Montreal, Plateau-Mont-Royal, and Laval. It prefers damp places like sewers, basements, and waste piles. Its habitation in these areas is due to the easy availability of food and shelter. Underground infrastructures like parking lots and metro systems offer numerous refuges. Renovated old industrial areas and the banks of the Lachine Canal are preferred habitats.

Behavior

Omnivorous, the Norway Rat prefers fruits, seeds, and carbohydrate-rich foods. It is nocturnal and less dependent on human proximity for feeding compared to the gray rat. Though territorial, it is more inclined to flee than fight.

Gray Rat

Size: About 16 to 20 cm long (excluding tail)
Color: Gray
Appearance: Slimmer body than the Norway Rat, large ears
Attractions: Various food sources (fruits, seeds, waste), high places like attics for nests, openings in structures for access
Detection Element: Gnawing marks, nests, 1 cm long droppings

Physical Description

The gray rat, or black rat, is slimmer and more elegant than the Norway Rat, with a total length of up to 24 cm including the tail. It has smooth fur, generally black or dark gray, and a lighter belly. Its ears are larger and its muzzle more pointed.

Habitat

The gray rat is common in cities such as Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières, and Drummondville. Unlike the brown rat, it prefers elevated places like attics, trees, and roofs. Its presence in these cities is often attributed to the availability of high structures and isolated spaces for nesting and the absence of fierce competition as in larger cities.

Behavior

Omnivorous, the gray rat prefers fruits, seeds, and carbohydrate-rich foods. It is nocturnal and less dependent on human proximity for feeding compared to the Norway Rat. Though territorial, it is more inclined to flee than fight.