Continued
They always follow the
same routes, hence the term "rat runs", and these
soon become obvious running along the tops of walls in built
up areas or through long grass beside ditches in the country.
Brown rats live in small groups whose members are probably
all descended from one female. A hierarchy is established within
these family groups, with one or more dominant males. The position
of the rat in the hierarchy seems to depend upon it's weight
rather than it's age. Females for example will not mate with
males that are lighter than themselves. Each family group occupies
a territory, and in areas where rat population is high, the
territorial boundaries are patrolled rigorously. Intruders
are identified by their smell and are expelled.
Brown or Norway rats are basically nocturnal, although some
individuals can be spotted during the day in highly populated
areas. It would seem that these are low-ranking in the social
structure and have been denied access to food by the dominant
rats during the night, when most activity takes place. Their
diet is extremely broad, and they will almost anything that
is edible, with a food preference for grain. They eat more
meat than the Black rat, and if they get the opportunity, they
will eat carrion and will prey on other animals. In the wild,
brown rats will eat snails, insects, crustaceans and freshwater
shellfish.
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