Which Rat is That?

How do you know if that scurrying flash is friend or foe. The Australian museum has a page dedicated to explaining the differences, which is summarised below.

How to tell

Black/ Brown Rat

• Behaviour:
• Active day and night, fearless around humans 
• Agile climber of trees, fences, wires and roofs 
• Nest: Made of shredded materials such as paper, insulation 
• Tail : Long in relation to body, parsley haired and scaly 
• Fur: Sleek smooth coat
• Ears: Big and thin
• Teeth:1 pair of chisel shaped incisors with yellow enamel

Native Bush Rat

• Behaviour :
• Shy, not found where people frequent 
• Nest in dense understorey in short burrows under logs and rocks 
• Nest: lined with grass 
• Tail: Shorter than the body in length 
• Fur:Dense soft fur 
• Ears:rounded 
• Teeth:1 pair of chisel shaped incisors with yellow enamel

Antechinus (Not a rat- it's a marsupial mouse)

• Behaviour: 
• Found in bushland not urban areas 
• Shelter in spherical nests, logs 
• Tail:Sparsley haired, same length as body or shorter 
• Ears:Large and crinkly 
• Teeth: 4 rows of small sharp incisors