Rodents
What does a rat nest look like?
A Norway rat nest is often a burrow in soil or a stuffed void in a lower wall, with shredded paper, insulation, and fabric. A Roof rat nest is usually above you: attic insulation, a palm, or a soffit. You will see droppings and rub marks on the runway before you find the cup of shredded stuff.
Do not dig blindly
Opening a wall to “find the nest” without a respirator plan, especially after Deer mouse country, is how people get a dusty surprise. CDC hantavirus advice is about deer mice, not Norway rats, but any nest dust is a lung issue. Trap the runway, seal the hole, then clean with wet methods. Do not dry-sweep droppings.
Species pages
The question is only the field note. Control sequence, legal notes, and identification live on the species article.
Norway rat
Rattus norvegicus
The Norway rat is the heavy, ground-dwelling commensal rat of US cities. It does not “decide” to live in…
Roof rat
Rattus rattus
Roof rats are the athletes of commensal rats: long tail, large ears, a nose that looks sharp compared with a…
Related questions
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