Invasive rat

A brownish-colored rat perched on the edge of a bird nest

Invasive rat

The three most invasive rat species — black or ship rats, brown or Norway rats, and Pacific rats — followed ocean explorers onto islands. The rats prey on and outcompete native species on tropical islands, sometimes leading to extinction.

Image

Photo By/Credit

Jack Jeffrey/USFWS

Ecosystem

Marine

Species

Rattus rattus

Media Usage Rights/License

Public Domain

Subject tags

Invasive species

Islands

Mammals

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