Rat types found in Canada include two species that cause the vast majority of home and business infestations — the brown rat and the black rat — plus the less common pack rat in some regions. Knowing which rat types found in Canada you’re dealing with helps determine where they nest, what they eat, and how quickly a small problem can turn into a full infestation. This guide covers each species in detail, plus where rats hide during the day and what to do if you spot one on your property.

Where Do Rats Go During the Day?

During the day, rats hide in dark, quiet, rarely-disturbed spots to stay safe from predators and people. Common daytime hiding places include wall voids, attics, crawl spaces, basements, woodpiles, dense shrubs, sewers, and cluttered storage areas. Because rats are nocturnal, they rest in these hidden nests and burrows once the sun rises, only coming out after dark to search for food and water.

Where rats hide inside your home

• Attics and roof spaces: warm, quiet and full of insulation for nesting. Roof rats (black rats) especially prefer high places.
• Wall voids and ceiling spaces: rats travel and nest between studs and joists, which is why you hear scratching at night.
• Crawl spaces and basements: dark, damp areas with easy access to plumbing and the outdoors.
• Behind and under appliances: stoves, fridges, dishwashers and water heaters offer warmth and hidden gaps.
• Garages and storage rooms: clutter, cardboard boxes and stored pet food or birdseed.

Where rats hide outside

• Burrows: Norway rats (brown rats) dig burrows along foundations, under decks, sheds, concrete slabs and garden beds.
• Woodpiles, compost and garbage areas: shelter right next to a food source.
• Dense shrubs, ivy and hedges: common daytime cover for roof rats in the Lower Mainland.
• Trees and fences: roof rats climb and travel along branches, fences and power lines.
• Sewers and storm drains: a major home for brown rats in towns and cities.

Brown rats vs. roof rats: where each one hides

In BC, the two main pest rats behave differently. Norway (brown) rats stay low: burrows, basements, crawl spaces and sewers. Roof (black) rats live high: attics, ceilings, trees and thick vegetation. Knowing which one you have tells you where to look and where to treat.

Is It Bad to See a Rat During the Day?

Usually, yes. Rats are nocturnal, so a rat out in daylight often means:

• The population is large and weaker rats are pushed out to feed in daytime.
• Their nest has been disturbed by construction, renovation or flooding.
• Food is scarce at night, or an easy daytime food source is available, such as bird feeders, pet food or fallen fruit.

A rat seen in daylight is a strong sign there are many more hidden nearby. It is best to act quickly.

How to Tell Where Rats Are Hiding

1. Droppings: dark, capsule-shaped droppings about 1–2 cm long cluster near nests and feeding areas.
2. Rub marks: greasy dark smudges along walls, beams and entry holes.
3. Gnaw marks: chewed wood, plastic, wiring and food packaging.
4. Noises at night: scratching, scurrying or squeaking in walls and ceilings.
5. Burrows and runways: holes about 5–8 cm wide along foundations, with packed-down paths through grass.
6. Nesting material: shredded insulation, paper and fabric in hidden corners.

How to Get Rid of Rats Hiding in Your Home

Seal entry points (rats can squeeze through gaps about the size of a quarter), remove food and clutter, trim vegetation away from the house, and keep garbage and compost sealed. Because rats hide in walls and roof spaces, a professional inspection is the fastest way to find every nest and entry point. Our rat control service combines inspection, tamper-resistant baiting and trapping, exclusion work and follow-up visits.

Rat types found in Canada

”Rat is a type of animal that resembles a large mouse which belongs to phylum chordate and mammal class. Typically they have pointed snout, thin legs and distinguished from mice by their size. Rats are found in various medium-size and long tail in black and brown color. The term rat is generally and randomly used for several members of rodent (rat) families having size longer than about 12cm, or 5 inches. There are many kinds of rats like,brown rats, black rat, pack rat, fancy rat, bulldog rat, long haired rat and Polynesian rat.

In scientific notation it also has been estimated that any of 56 thin tailed and medium-size rodent species of rats are found in the continental Asia and the adjacent island of south East Asia eastward to the side of Australia and New GUINEA regions. Black and brown are two main types of rats which are commonly found in Canada. Both types are very common in commercial as well as residential area of the country.

The brown rat is also called the Norway rat and house rat,whereas black rat is also considered as ship rat or roof rat and they live everywhere, where they seem that human populations have settled. Mostly house rats lives in warmer climate regions and brown rats lives temperate and urban regions. The brown rat reached Europe in the mid-1500s and North America around 1750.

Kinds of rats  / Rat types found in Canada

1. Brown rats:

The brown rats are also known as the common rats, Norway rats, and street rats. These rats have 30g mass and approximately up to 28cm body length. Therefore their life span is two years and weighs between 350 to 500g. Brown rats have originated in northern china, but now these rats have been spread in all continents except Antarctica. Mostly such kinds of rats are found in urban areas. Brown rats are true omnivores and consume almost everything, but the substantial part of its diet is cereals. They eat around 30g of food a day and drink 60ml.

Reproduction and life cycle of brown rats.

The brown rats reproduce throughout the year and have 7-8 young per litter and 3-6 litters in a year. The gestation period is about 3 weeks. They live in large groups either in burrows or subsurface places.

1.  Black rats:

The black rat is also known as ship rat, roof rat, or house rat. It is the common long tailed type of the stereotypical rat. Its length is 12.75 to 18.25 cm and weighs 75 to 230g. It has pointed and large muzzle, and almost seems hairless ears, slim body and long thin tail longer than its body.  Mostly these black rats feed at night time and an average rat eats 50g of food in a day. Although rats are omnivores but they eat almost everything which humans eat also.

Occasionally black rats are found in towns and make nests under building and high places such as trees, but sometimes in burrows under plants. These roof rats eat stored food, and transmit diseases by droppings and urine.

1. Pack rats:

Pack rat is another kind of rat that has medium-sized and mostly belong to North and Central America. Its weigh is up to 600g and having a body length nearly of up to 25cm. it has slight and short tail with long haired. Pac krat is also known as wood rat. Pack rats are nest builders and feed primarily vegetation, twigs and shoots. These pack rats usually live in seasonal homes or nearby sheds and barns and leave droppings on surface.

Top Line Pest Control is able to provide the most effective services to get rid of rats.
We can also advise you on how to deter rats in the first place and avoid an infestation in your home or business.

Call us today on 604 551 6504 to arrange for effective solutions to get rid of rats quickly.

Which Rat Types Found in Canada Are Near You?

Of the rat types found in Canada, the brown rat is by far the most common in urban and suburban homes across the country, while the black rat appears more often in coastal areas and older buildings. Both rat types found in Canada can squeeze through gaps the width of a quarter, chew through wiring and drywall, and reproduce quickly once inside a structure. If you’ve noticed droppings, gnaw marks, or scratching sounds and aren’t sure which of the rat types found in Canada you’re dealing with, our technicians can identify the species and recommend the right treatment for your property.

Rat FAQs

Where do rats sleep during the day?

Rats sleep in hidden nests in wall voids, attics, crawl spaces, burrows, woodpiles and dense vegetation, close to food and water.

Do rats come out during the day?

Rarely. Healthy rats are mostly active from dusk to dawn. Daytime activity usually points to a large or disturbed infestation.

What time do rats come out at night?

Rats are most active shortly after dark and again in the hours before sunrise.

What kinds of rats are in Canada?

The two main pest species are the Norway (brown) rat and the roof (black) rat. Pack rats (bushy-tailed woodrats) are found in some rural and mountain areas.

Rat Control in Surrey, Langley and Abbotsford

Hearing rats in your walls or seeing them during the day? Top Line Pest Control serves Surrey, Langley, Abbotsford and the Lower Mainland. Call 604-551-6504 or get a free quote today.