Orange County Health Dept, FL

Rats

A fully grown rat can weigh as much as a pound.
Newly born rats can be size of an adult mouse.
They have thick long tails.
Their ears are smaller in proportion to their heads.
They have more blunt features than mice.
Do not multiply as fast as mice.
Carry diseases like bubonic plague and typhus which can become epidemic and deadly to humans.
Their normal life span ranges from 2-5 years.
Dig deep or long burrows to nest.
Tend to be more aggressive and will attack. \
Will venture further from their nests to find food.
Capable of learning and adapting to environments.
Leave oily stains on walls and openings where they live.
Their droppings are large and can be up to a 1/2 inch in diameter.