Rodents


PHOTOGRAPHY OF SMALL 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

Anti-coagulant poisoning is seen frequently.
Most rats seen about in daytime in southern areas of Australia 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 generation products such as Warfarin are less dangerous because they are metabolised more quickly by the victim. Moribund rats should be picked up under a towel, then humanely killed. All carcasses should be disposed of where animals cannot get them. A better approach is to rodent-proof food sources  such as chook feeders, hen houses, and compost containers; and to use traps rather than baits. New age 'deterrents' such as Ultra-sonic devices do not work.


Rodents

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Discussion

DonFletcher wrote:
38 min ago
Not necessarily unwise. Rats can make nice pets. But this will be a hard way to get one, if it survived. Just don't release it.
So the choice is either making a pet of it, or euthanasia.

Unverified Rodent
KIrvs wrote:
3 hrs ago
@DonFletcher would it be unwise for us to keep it ,if it survives,after rehabilitating it? At the moment it's leg is broken and it has a good cut on its belly.

Unverified Rodent
DonFletcher wrote:
4 hrs ago
Hi @KIrvs, I cant identify such a young rodent. But in several decades, the only rodents recorded in Canberra suburbs have been introduced Black (Roof) Rats, (Rattus rattus) and the introduced House Mouse (Mus musculus), with also a few claims for the introduced Norway (Sewer or Brown) Rat (Rattus norvegicus). I am excluding the native Rakali from consideration because it does not occur in houses or gardens. Native Bush Rats (Rattus fuscipes) are hard to find now, even in Namadgi and I have never heard of one in or near Canberra and none have ever been trapped in surveys in the Canberra Reserves from 1976 to the present. Therefore I would bet my hat this would turn out to be a juvenile Black Rat.

Unverified Rodent
DonFletcher wrote:
22 Apr 2025
Hi Chris @cmobbs, Tail of introduced Black (Roof) Rat is longer than its head+body. Tail of native Bush Rat (R fuscipes) is shorter. Also, R.fuscipes has not been recorded in Canberra or Canberra Nature Park for many decades, if ever. And R. norvegicus is rare here. Our only native rat in Canberra is the Rakali.

In the mountains there are four rat species, R.rattus, R.fuscipes, Mastacomys fuscus and Rakali. Also the extremely rare Smoky Mouse is the size of a juvenile rat.

Here is a link to the CNM advice about identifying and managing small mammals, titled 'PHOTOGRAPHY OF SMALL MAMMALS FOR IDENTIFICATION' Rodents

Rattus rattus
KimTankard wrote:
4 Apr 2025
It was so exciting to see a Rakali in the Lake again. It’s been a few years since I last saw one hear in Belconnen, ACT

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