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Brown Rat

Rattus norvegicus

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33.1384, -117.051

Field Notes

Description:

This long gray and brown rat was stuck in an orange tree after the dogs smelled it up there. It has a long tail, large dark eyes, small ears, long whiskers and short legs.

Habitat:

Up in an orange tree in the backyard. The video is of this rat rushing past my foot earlier when I stood in it's usual path from food to home.

Notes:

The rat finally had enough and jumped out of the tree an into the safety of a nearby Bougainvillea bush. "The brown rat, common rat, sewer rat, Hanover rat, Norway rat, brown Norway rat, Norwegian rat, or wharf rat is one of the best known and most common rats." Due to it's range and numbers, it's been called "... the most successful mammal on the planet after humans" - Wikipedia

Reference Links:

Brown rat

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
CindyBinghamKeiser
Thank you! Emma, that's a neat story! Sometimes less is more :) Daniele, this was the third time I stood there. The first time, it tried to run up my leg and the dog nearly knocked me over trying to get it. The second time it just ran over my shoe. The third time, I put my foot a bit to the side and had my camera!
HemaShah
Fun!! liked the part where you can only see the tail!! It brings to mind an incident I remember. There was a drawing contest. One contestant handed in an entry with only a curvy line on white paper. The judge asked him what it wass. He said it was the tail of a mouse sticking out from a pile of snow. He won the first prize!! True incident!
DanielePralong
Fantastic series Cindy! You've got to be fast with the video!
alin
I quite like the first photo.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Southern California Wildlife

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Photographed
PublishedFebruary 4, 2012

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