Rodents are the most abundant order of mammals on earth. Approximately fifty percent of all living mammals are rodents. They are very diverse and have flourished in areas alongside humans. They are generally small in size, although the South American Capybara can reach 1.3 m in length and weigh up to 50 kgs.
Although we don't have monsters of those proportions running around Sydney, we do have three species which are considered pests, the Roof Rat or Black Rat, the Norway Rat or Brown Rat and the House Mouse. They are prolific breeders and cause millions of dollars damage to food stocks, as well as spread disease, like leptospirosis, cause salmonella poisoning, and even start fires by gnawing through electrical cables.
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The Black Rat, also known as the Norwegian Rat, originated in South-East Asia. During the Middle Ages it was responsible for spreading the Bubonic Plague, as it carried the flea that transmitted the disease. By nature, the black rat is a tree dweller that builds a round nest using sticks and leaves. In urban areas, it has adapted to living in buildings, where it builds its nest in wall, ceiling and floor cavities. Its size varies depending on the environment it lives in and food supply. It is characterised by the length of its tail, which is longer than the combined length of its head and body.
The Brown Rat originated in Eastern Asia from where it spread rapidly to the rest of the world. It can be found in warehouses, buildings, farms and normally builds its nest in roof cavities, although it prefers living near water and damp places. It will practically eat anything and will let nothing stand in it's way to get to food. In the wild it can travel up to 5 kms from the nest to find food and will always travel along the same route to get to it, hence the term "rat run". It has a thicker body, shorter tail and smaller ears than the black rat.
The House Mouse, originally from South- Western Asia, has spread throughout the world, mainly with the help of man. Although much smaller in size than the two rats above, it poses a bigger threat, due to the fact that it can basically squeeze through very small opening, thus making it harder to keep out. It produces more offspring and at a faster rate than rats, and can became a very serious problem in a short period of time, as it tends to contaminate everything it comes in contact with.
