What does a rat track look like? - briefly
A rat track appears as a narrow, shallow groove about 1–2 cm wide, showing parallel ridges or a single central line with occasional side scratches from claws. The pattern often includes a V‑shaped overlap of front and rear footprints, and a faint tail impression may be present.
What does a rat track look like? - in detail
A rat’s footprint is small, typically 2–3 mm long and 1.5–2 mm wide. The print shows a rounded heel pad followed by a slightly elongated toe region. Four toes are visible; each toe ends in a tiny, claw‑like point that may or may not leave a distinct impression depending on the substrate. The toe pads are arranged in a shallow “V” shape, with the inner toes slightly closer together than the outer ones.
The heel pad appears as a broader, darker oval. When the animal moves, the heel contacts the ground first, then the toes press down, creating a sequential pattern: heel‑toe‑toe‑toe‑toe. In soft media such as sand, ash, or fine soil, the imprint may include faint drag marks from the tail, which is often positioned slightly off‑center and may leave a thin line extending behind the hind footprints.
Key characteristics to identify a rat track:
- Size: 2–3 mm length, 1.5–2 mm width.
- Toe count: Four, arranged in a narrow V.
- Heel pad: Rounded, broader than the toe area.
- Claw marks: Small, sometimes invisible on smooth surfaces.
- Tail drag: Thin, linear trace behind the hind prints in loose substrates.
Differences between common species are subtle. The Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) tends to produce deeper impressions with more pronounced heel pads, while the roof‑rat (Rattus rattus) often leaves lighter prints and a more pronounced tail drag due to its longer, more flexible tail. Substrate texture influences detail: hard surfaces capture only toe and heel outlines; soft materials reveal full pad depth and tail traces.