Non-native Rats in Idaho

Non-native rats are an evolving issue facing the citizens of Idaho. The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) is providing web-based mapping tools for property owners and private service providers to identify areas of infestations. This data will be shared with local entities including local city and county officials working toward a solution for rat infested areas.

Identify non-native Rat Species

Use the factsheets below to help identify rat species of concern in Idaho. These resources highlight key physical traits, behaviors, and impacts of non-native Norway rats and roof rats, and how they differ from native packrats (woodrats).

The idaho state department of agriculture’s role

While non-native, the roof rat and Norway rat are not listed as Invasive Species in the State of Idaho. Therefore, ISDA does not have the authority nor budget to take action on non-native rat infestations in the state. ISDA is providing the public an Idaho Rat Reporting Form to report potential roof rat and Norway rat sightings.

The goal of the Idaho Rat Reporting Form is to centralize the data in one place for local governments to have a clear picture of the extent of the non-native rat populations to guide future decision making. As reports begin coming in, ISDA will be able to provide heat maps and reporting data to local government entities upon request.

The Idaho Rat Reporting Form

Use this form to report non-native rat sightings in Idaho. *Please utilize the rat identification documents and comparison chart above to determine if the rat sighting is a non-native or native species.