Rodents


PHOTOGRAPHY OF SMALL MAMMALS FOR IDENTIFICATION

Most photos of small terrestrial mammals submitted to Canberra Nature Map for identification that were photographed in the Canberra suburban area are of a Black Rat (Rattus rattus).  The next most likely species is the House Mouse (Mus musculus). Outside the city, at present, photos of Black Rats outnumber all other small mammal photos combined. However you may have found something different.  Here are some tips for what to include in your photos to increase the potential for correct identification:

  • An image that is sharp, not blurry;
  • A scale;
  • A view of the whole animal (preferably stretched out if it is a carcass);
  • Views of every surface -  (not always possible but ideally this includes a profile of the head, good views of the ears, the belly, the pads on the hind feet, and a good view of the fur and  skin on the tail from below and above);
  • Views of the teeth; and
  • a count of the number of teats

Anti-coagulant poisoning is seen frequently.
Most rats seen about in daytime in southern areas of Australia are moribund due to baiting with anti-coagulant toxins such as Brodifacoum. As such they are attractive to birds such as owls and raptors, which are very sensitive to 2nd generation anti-coagulants such as Brodifacoum. 1st generation products such as Warfarin are less dangerous because they are metabolised more quickly by the victim. Moribund rats should be picked up under a towel, then humanely killed. All carcasses should be disposed of where animals cannot get them. A better approach is to rodent-proof food sources  such as chook feeders, hen houses, and compost containers; and to use traps rather than baits. New age 'deterrents' such as Ultra-sonic devices do not work.


Rodents

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Discussion

DonFletcher wrote:
Yesterday
Hi @DallasCheryl , thanks for the record. Small mammals are hard to ID from photos and those photos, well let us say I have seen sharper, closer, clearer ones from every possible angle. Its long tail, long ears, and pale fur on the upperside of its feet make it looks like the non-native Rattus rattus but the other factor I'm going from is that no other Rattus has ever been found in the Canberra suburbs to my knowledge. We dont have Melomys down here. We have Rattus fuscipes well out in the bush away from the suburbs, Mastacomys fuscus high up in Namadgi and Hydromys chrysogaster in the lakes and rivers.

Rattus rattus
howie wrote:
13 Jun 2025

Rattus fuscipes
howie wrote:
13 Jun 2025
We have never seen a rattus rattus anywhere on our property. I disagree with the rattus rattus id. definitely rattus fuscapes

Rattus fuscipes
howie wrote:
13 Jun 2025
We have never seen a rattus rattus anywhere on our property. I disagree with the rattus rattus id. definitely rattus fuscapes

Rattus fuscipes
11 Jun 2025
The colour of the underside and feet doesn't look right for Rattus lutreolus, which is usually darker. I agree it looks like a young one.

Muridae (family)
825,704 sightings of 22,624 species from 14,259 members
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