Mammals
Rodents
Rats
Sighting 4674084

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Identification history

Rattus rattus 6 Jun 2025 MartinPredavec
Rattus fuscipes 6 Jun 2025 JenniferS

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7 comments

MartinPredavec wrote:
   6 Jun 2025
Hi @JenniferS - it's hard to tell which species of rat this is without seeing the full tail. However, the large ears and that it has climbed up to the bird bath suggest a black rat (Rattus rattus).
JenniferS wrote:
   6 Jun 2025
I’m adding more. I think it’s a bush rat. 🤷🏻‍♀️
MartinPredavec wrote:
   6 Jun 2025
Thanks for the extra pictures. Given the length of the tail (it looks long in the second picture), the size of the ears (will reach the eyes if folded forward) and the clear climbing ability (black rats are very good climbers whereas bush rats tend to stick on the ground) I think its a black rat.
JenniferS wrote:
   6 Jun 2025
Right. Well that’s disappointing. But they’re huge. I thought the black rats were smaller….
JenniferS wrote:
   6 Jun 2025
The dingos, quolls and powerful owls need step up then I think. 😐
MartinPredavec wrote:
   6 Jun 2025
Both species have a large range of body size (which overlap). On average, bush rats are smaller than black rats.
JenniferS wrote:
   6 Jun 2025
Oh right. Well, I’m hoping our other wildlife gets busy then. So the black rat can also be very brown? (These are not the slightest bit black).

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Sighting information

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