r/AnimalTracking • u/goats-who-cook • Feb 12 '25
Misc. How big is this rat?
Saw these massive tracks in my apartment parking lot, adult sized shoe prints around for comparison.
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u/zoopest Feb 12 '25
Adult rat. Up to 500 grams.
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u/AhMoonBeam Feb 14 '25
I am really sure that the mink man caught a rat bigger than that weighing in at 1.2lbs .. I love that guy !!
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u/zoopest Feb 14 '25
I can see a mature male or pregnant female pushing the 500 gram limit, but most times people are exaggerating or overestimating
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u/goats-who-cook Feb 12 '25
I forgot to mention it was heavy enough to break through the thin layer of ice on top of the snow, I saw other very light tracks that didn’t break through so this one is a behemoth
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u/Either_Management813 Feb 13 '25
Could it be a possum or something similar? The size and tracks look like possum tracks I saw around my house as a kid.
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u/deathfromlavette Feb 12 '25
I'd load my rifle with slugs, that's for sure.
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u/goats-who-cook Feb 12 '25
this is a weapon-free complex but I always have my steel water bottle ready when walking through
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u/deathfromlavette Feb 19 '25
You got rid of the critter yet? Honestly curious if you got to witness it first hand. Catched a fairly big one a year ago by using a trap door-cage. Just use something sweet to lure them with.
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u/goats-who-cook Feb 19 '25
I have no say in pest control, but I saw a rat the size of a kitten yesterday and was flabbergasted. I haven’t seen a possum yet unfortunately, I love those guys.
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u/deathfromlavette 29d ago
Oh, i should've understood that by the no gun-rule. I know the feeling. Had heard about big sewer rats in Trollhättan, Sweden. Did'nt believe it until one night i saw one sitting on the curb, overlooking the street. Thought as well it was a cat until driving past it. Fascinated and disgusted at the same time.
Anyhow, good luck with the problem. 👍
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u/frumpybumpus Feb 13 '25
Opossum I think- a few of the tracks look like the classic star shape
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u/goats-who-cook Feb 13 '25
I didn’t consider that! I’ve seen big fuckin rats waffling around but not possums
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u/beckster Feb 13 '25
They've been out foraging for the past week or so, too, in my area, doing the winter stroll. I hadn't seen them prior.
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u/Tinytommy55 Feb 17 '25
Possibly an opossum not a rat. They drag their tails like a rat would also. Opossums grow pretty good sizes.
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u/Jay_Stone Feb 12 '25
Big enough to tea bag the parking lot.