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

arjay wrote:
5 hrs ago
We very rarely see black rats or for that matter house mice. Instead we have bush rats and antechinus both of which are much nicer animals.

Rattus fuscipes
DonFletcher wrote:
6 hrs ago
Hi arjay, I agree with fuscipes but we see so few these days, compared to hundreds of R rattus, that I wanted more certainty. Verified as fuscipes.

Rattus fuscipes
arjay wrote:
6 hrs ago
These are the only two photos I have and they were taken in 2014 so the animal itself is long gone. I have loaded an magnified image of tail. Sorry no images of the other ear or hind foot. Will keep it in mind for next time. I had assumed it was R. fuscipes. It is not R. rattus. Tail too short although it looks like it has been trimmed a bit at some stage. Ears too small. Surrounding habitat is difficult. It varies a lot. Probably mostly dry sclerophyll forest that is extremely wet at the moment. Old cleared areas are reverting to forest via ti tree, Bursaria and wattles. Very slowly.

Rattus fuscipes
DonFletcher wrote:
6 hrs ago
Hi arjay, are you able to upload a photo of the sole of the hind foot, the other side with the intact ear and a better view of the scales on the tail. What is the surrounding habitat like?

Rattus fuscipes
arjay wrote:
Yesterday
Yeah put it down to rain or something. For some reason images sometimes don't load. Even although it is the first thing that you actually do to report a sighting.

Rattus fuscipes
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