Mostrats

Mostrats is a term used in urban ecology and pest management to describe the dominant subgroup of rats in a defined area. It is not a formal taxonomic category, but a descriptive label for populations that contribute the most to local rat activity, often comprised primarily of the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) and the black rat (Rattus rattus).

Observation and estimation: Researchers and professionals use trapping data, bait station results, sanitation surveys, and citizen reports to estimate mostrats presence. Methods include capture-mark-recapture, track plates, and GIS-based density modeling. The term can refer to the set of individuals contributing most to population metrics (abundance, movement, or reproduction rates).

Ecology and behavior: Common urban rats are omnivorous, opportunistic, and highly adaptable, often thriving in sewers, building foundations, and waste disposal sites. Norway rats are typically larger and prefer ground burrows and lower floors; black rats are more arboreal and prefer upper levels; both species can form large urban populations with high reproductive output.

Impact and management: Mostrats contribute to property damage, food contamination, disease vectors, and nuisance. IPM strategies emphasize sanitation, exclusion (seal entry points), habitat modification, targeted rodenticides, and ongoing monitoring. Resistance to certain anticoagulants has been reported in some areas.

See also: Urban rodents, Rodent control, Integrated pest management.