The most common rodents are the house mouse (m. musculus), the roof rat (r. rattus) and the Norway rat (r. norvegicus). They are active usually at night, feed on a variety of foods, but prefer cereals. Rats usually follow a defined route to the feeding site leaving a patch or track. Mice build dens, which can be among various goods, in piles of rubbish, on roofs or in the ground. Rats have poor eyesight. They detect movement by means of their whiskers, which are well-developed touch organs. They have a keen sense of smell and are good climbers, jumpers and swimmers.
Rat activities result in damage to urban structures and a wide variety of consumer goods.
They are also a major threat to human health due to their ability to spread infectious diseases.
