Rats are highly adaptable omnivores found across the globe, thriving in diverse environments ranging from urban centers to wilderness areas. Their opportunistic nature allows them to exploit a vast array of food sources, enabling them to survive and reproduce effectively wherever sustenance is available.
Animals Rats Actively Hunt
Rats demonstrate predatory instincts, actively hunting and consuming various small animals, particularly when these protein sources are accessible. Their diet includes invertebrates like cockroaches, beetles, crickets, snails, slugs, and earthworms. In some environments, rats also prey on small vertebrates, including nestlings and eggs of small birds, especially those nesting on or near the ground. They may also target small rodents, such as mice, and amphibians like frogs and lizards. While they are not primary hunters, their sharp teeth and strong jaws allow them to subdue such prey when the opportunity arises.
Plant Matter and Scavenged Foods
Beyond active predation, a significant portion of a rat’s diet consists of plant matter. This includes grains, seeds, fruits, vegetables, nuts, roots, leaves, and stems. Rats are also highly effective scavengers, consuming human discarded food. They readily feed on carrion and consume accessible pet food. This adaptability to available food sources contributes to their widespread success.
Methods of Food Acquisition
Rats employ several methods to find and obtain their diverse diet, relying heavily on their acute senses. They possess an extremely keen sense of smell, with over one percent of their DNA dedicated to odor detection, enabling them to locate food through packaging, walls, or even pantry doors. This sense is so developed that rats can learn about desirable food by smelling the breath of other rats.
Their excellent gnawing abilities, stemming from constantly growing incisors, allow them to chew through various materials like wood, plastic, and even soft metals to access hidden food sources. While gnawing is essential for maintaining their teeth, it also serves as a means of entry to food. Rats also utilize burrowing habits to find underground food or to create nests near sustenance. Their opportunistic scavenging behavior and ability to climb help them reach food in elevated locations. Their intelligence aids in problem-solving and remembering food locations, further enhancing their feeding strategies.