How High Can Norway Rats Jump?
WouterRats have the ability to jump high, but it is not clear how high they can jump. Norway rats, also known as roof rats, can jump at least 36 inches vertically and two feet horizontally. This is quite a feat for a rat, but the animal can also fall from up to 50 feet without harming itself. Rats are not nocturnal, but are active during the day when they are less likely to face danger. Their peak activity hours are usually shortly after the sun sets and before sunrise.
The study used 11 wild-caught Norway rats weighing between 213 and 318 grams, and 12 ship rats weighing a mere 121 grams. Each rat was allowed to live alone for one day and two nights. They were given access to a nest box, standard rat pellets, and carrots. They were also provided with water ad libitum at ground level. Time-lapse video cameras were used to monitor the rats for about 14 hours.
Although Norway rats tend to use terrestrial food sources, they are capable of climbing to reach high-up platforms. They have been observed leaping from platform to platform on the trees and platforms where they feed. However, this ability is not as widespread as some people think. In fact, the biggest Norway rats were the most successful climbers, having the largest forelegs and the largest weights to lift. Nevertheless, most of them climbed more slowly than the smaller ship rats.
