Brown rat

Brown rats spread viruses (Seoul orthohantavirus, Lyssavirus, SARS-CoV), bacteria (e.g. causative agents of rickettsioses, leptospirosis, plague, tularemia, salmonellosis), protozoa (e.g. Toxoplasma gondii), and nematodes (e.g. Trichinella spiralis) that are dangerous for humans.
Brown rats chew on books, clothes, household items and furniture. They also damage insulation materials and can chew holes in wooden floors and doors. They destroy and contaminate food and the raw materials used to produce it.

These are animals living in families, i.e. they are social animals.
Perhaps the most important their sense is the sense of smell.
They have a very well-developed sense of taste; this allows them to distinguish between types of food and their quality. The scent of individuals and the marks they leave (urine and skin oil stains on vertical surfaces along their trails) are one way they communicate with each other and pass on information.
Hearing is highly developed – not only in the range of frequencies normally heard by humans, but also in the ultrasonic range.
Their least developed sense is sight. Rodent eyes are adapted to see in the dark, therefore, they cannot distinguish the details of an object – they only see the shape.
They are able to remember and learn; they perceive and remembers a sequence of coherent actions – not many – only up to 4 actions.
Rats react quickly to any movement.
They are Excellent diggers: can burrow up to 2 m deep in loose soil; along sewers, water supply pipes or foundations and other areas where the ground has been artificially disturbed, may burrow even deeper.
Brown rats are the best swimmers of all synanthropic rodent species. In open water bodies, it can easily cover a distance of 500 m.
They are good divers – they can stay submerged for about 30 seconds. Once in the sewerage system, they can end up in toilets.
They climb pipes, electrical wires, curtains, power and ventilation ducts – all horizontal and vertical rough surfaces.
They are good jumpers: can jump up to 60 cm from a standing position and about 110 cm horizontally.
They pass through holes and cracks of at least 1.9 cm in diameter.
They survive a fall from a height of 14 m.
They are omnivores – feed on both plant and animal foods; often eat poultry and rabbit chicks, and drink eggs. They always choose fresher food when they can.
They stock up on food
and consume about 20 g of food per day.
Rats can survive without food for 2⎯3 days.
When there is enough food, they feed at night, more specifically after sunset and before sunrise. With undisturbed and in absence of food, they adapt to their environment and remain active throughout the day.
Brown rats can travel up to 18 km in search of new food and water sources.