There are three main rodent pest species relevant to poultry operations in Australia:

• black rat (Rattus rattus)
• brown rat or Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus)
• house mouse (Mus musculus)

Each rodent species has a unique set of physical features and behavioural adaptations that need to be considered when designing a rodent control program. Having a targeted rodent control strategy will increase the likelihood that rodent control efforts will succeed.

To see the main differences between the three common rodent species found on poultry farms check out the ‘Know your rodent’ fact sheet.