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Rodent identification guide
Norway Rat in Georgia: How to Identify It and Spot Burrows and Ground-Level Signs
The Norway rat is a large, heavy-bodied rat that lives low. UGA Extension says it generally does not climb and that its burrows turn up near landscape plants, under boards and near garbage cans, and UC IPM notes that indoors it stays in basements or on the ground floor.
Last reviewed October 19, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
Identification
How to recognize a Norway rat
| Feature | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Build and size | Large and heavy-bodied, up to a foot long without the tail; can weigh more than 1 lb (UGA) |
| Fur | Coarse, usually brown or reddish gray, with a whitish or gray belly (UGA) |
| Ears | Do not reach past the eyes (UGA, UC IPM) |
| Muzzle | Blunt (UC IPM) |
| Tail | When pulled forward over the back, reaches about the middle of the skull (UC IPM), so it is shorter than the head and body |
Burrows and other ground-level signs
- Burrows in weedy areas near landscape plants, under boards and doghouses, and near garbage cans or dumpsters (UGA); along building foundations and under trash piles or woodpiles (UC IPM).
- Burrows in the garden or compost, including among damaged vegetables (UC IPM).
- Runways worn through vegetation (UC IPM).
- Smudge marks where fur rubs against beams, pipes and walls (UC IPM).
- Gnaw marks about 1/6 in. (4 mm) wide, roughly twice a mouse’s (UC IPM).
- Droppings about the size of raisins (UGA).
UGA notes that after control, burrows can be closed with rocks and dirt; a burrow that reopens means rats are still there.
Where Norway rats live
UGA lists sewers, rubbish heaps, open garbage cans and dumpsters as typical places, and says a Norway rat may spend its whole life in an area only 100 to 150 feet across. Indoors, UC IPM says Norway rats remain in basements or on the ground floor, and where both rat species share a building, roof rats take the upper floors. That is why a Norway rat problem usually shows up at foundations, crawlspaces and ground-floor rooms rather than in the attic.
Norway rat or roof rat?
| Clue | Norway rat | Roof rat |
|---|---|---|
| Build | Large, heavy-bodied, stocky | Smaller, sleek and agile |
| Tail | Reaches to about the middle of the skull when pulled forward over the back | Longer than the head and body combined |
| Muzzle | Blunt | Pointed |
| Ears | Do not reach the eyes | Reach or extend past the eyes |
| Where it lives | Low: burrows outdoors; basements and ground floors inside | High: trees, shrubs and dense vegetation; attics and walls inside |
For roof rat signs, see the Roof Rat guide. To rule out mice, see Rat vs Mouse.
What helps around a Norway rat burrow
UGA’s sanitation advice targets the ground-level food and cover Norway rats depend on: tightly covered garbage cans, pet food in a dish with leftovers removed, brush, rock piles and clutter cleared, no wood piled against the house, and firewood stored at least a foot off the ground. UC IPM advises sealing all holes larger than 1/4 inch. Inside the house, UGA recommends traps rather than poison baits. For an active burrow system near a foundation, see Rat Control or Rodent Exclusion.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can a Norway rat get into my attic?
It is less likely. UGA says Norway rats generally do not climb, and UC IPM says they stay in basements or on the ground floor. Attic activity more often points to roof rats; see What Is in My Attic?
How far does a Norway rat travel?
Not far. UGA says it may spend its life in an area only 100 to 150 feet in diameter, so burrows are usually close to its food source.
Are droppings enough to tell a rat from a mouse?
They are a good start. UGA puts rat droppings at about the size of raisins and mouse droppings at about the size of rice grains.
Where this information comes from
Sources
Facts about identification, biology and safety come from the sources below, retrieved on October 19, 2026. Publication or review dates are given where the source shows one.
- Rats and Mice: Get Them Out of Your House and Yard (Circular 970), UGA Extension — by Michel Kohl and Michael T. Mengak; republished with minor revisions November 5, 2025
- Pest Notes: Rats (Publication 74106), UC Statewide IPM Program, University of California — by N.M. Quinn; updated June 2025
More rodent guides
Browse the full Atlanta Pest Library, or read another rodent guide:
Burrows near your foundation?
Call Pest Control Atlanta and describe where you found the burrows or droppings.
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