How High Do Rats Climb?
WouterRats have a great ability to climb walls, but not every wall is suitable for them. A recent study by the University of Nebraska found that rats can scale walls made of specific materials. These include wood, brick, sheet metal, stucco, drywall, and concrete. Rats have a natural anatomical advantage in this area, which helps them scale a wall. They also have minute ridges on the pads of their limbs, which generate friction and make climbing possible.
Aside from the claws on their paws, rats also have the ability to climb using their tails. Their five phalanges allow them to grip surfaces tightly, and their tails give them added stability while climbing. As a result, rats can climb up to fifteen meters without fear of falling.
Rats can leap 36 inches vertically and 48 inches horizontally. They can also survive a fall of 50 feet. With their flexible skulls and limbs, rats can also pass through openings as small as half an inch. Furthermore, they are able to run along wires and even jump up to thirteen inches high.
Rats can also climb trees. They use the bark to grip and climb, and are therefore excellent climbers. In fact, rats often use the bark of trees as a path to their homes. They can even jump four feet off the top of a tree. Rats can also climb ivy and other climbing plants, but cannot climb completely smooth surfaces.
