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Home / Rodent Guide / Roof Rat vs Norway Rat in Florida: How to Tell Which One You Have
Both rats live in Florida, but they behave very differently. Knowing which one you have tells you where it is nesting, how it gets in and where traps should go.
By Spring Hill Rodent Pros \u{00B7} Updated November 11, 2026 \u{00B7} 5 min read
Roof rats are slender, dark rats with large ears and a tail longer than the head and body; they climb and nest high in attics and trees. Norway rats are heavier and brown with a blunt nose, small ears and a shorter tail; they burrow and live at ground level. Roof rat droppings are about 1/2 inch with pointed ends, Norway rat droppings about 3/4 inch with blunt ends.
In Florida, two rat species cause most of the problems around homes: the roof rat (Rattus rattus) and the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus). They look similar at a glance, especially at night, but a few features separate them reliably. According to UF/IFAS Extension, the roof rat is the more common of the two in Florida and is the one most often found in attics.
Behavior is often more useful than appearance, because most people never get a clear look at the rat. Roof rats are climbers. They travel along tree limbs, palm fronds, fences, power lines and screen enclosures, and they nest high: in attics, soffits, the skirts of palm trees and dense vines. If you hear running or scratching in the ceiling at night, a roof rat is the most likely cause.
Norway rats are burrowers. UF/IFAS notes they are most common in Florida along coasts and canals, and they dig burrows under slabs, sheds, woodpiles, seawalls and dense ground cover. Inside, they stay low: crawl spaces, garages, ground-floor walls and around trash areas. Burrow holes about 2 to 4 inches across along a foundation or under a shed point toward Norway rats.
Rat control fails most often because the plan does not match the species. Traps for roof rats need to go where they travel: in the attic, on rafters, along the top of walls and on routes from the roof. Traps for Norway rats belong at ground level along walls and near burrows. Sealing work changes too. Roof rats are stopped by closing roofline gaps, vents and soffits and cutting tree access; Norway rats are stopped by sealing the foundation, doors, utility openings at ground level and burrow sites.
In Spring Hill, roof rats cause most attic calls, while Norway rats show up more around canals and coastal properties such as Hernando Beach and Weeki Wachee Gardens. Some homes have both, which is why an inspection that looks at the roofline and the ground is the best starting point.
Not every rat-sized rodent is a roof rat or Norway rat. The native hispid cotton rat lives in fields and dense grass and sometimes moves into sheds and garages. It has coarse, grizzled fur and a shorter tail. Cotton rats matter because the Florida Department of Health reports they can carry a hantavirus, so any rodent droppings should be cleaned up carefully. See our guide on whether rodent droppings are dangerous.
Roof rats are the rat most often found in Spring Hill attics. UF/IFAS Extension calls the roof rat the most abundant rodent pest in Florida. Norway rats are found too, mainly near canals, the coast, drainage areas and trash.
Yes. It is less common, but a home can have roof rats in the attic and Norway rats burrowing near the foundation or in the garage. Each needs its own trap placement and sealing plan.
Usually, but not always. Roof rats are the most likely, but Norway rats can climb wall voids and pipes, and squirrels or flying squirrels can also make noise in attics. Droppings and entry points confirm which animal it is.
Call and tell us where you are and what you are hearing, seeing or smelling. A local rodent specialist can then set up an inspection of your attic, crawl space, garage and exterior.