rætt

Rått is a term sometimes used in Swedish to refer to the rodent species commonly known as rats. In scientific taxonomy, rats belong to the genus Rattus within the family Muridae. The two species most familiar to people are Rattus norvegicus (the brown rat) and Rattus rattus (the black rat). In standard Swedish, the animal is råtta (singular) and råttor (plural).

Description: Brown rats are robust, with a body length of about 20–25 cm, a tail of similar length, and a weight around 350–500 g. Black rats are smaller (about 16–21 cm) with a relatively longer tail and generally 150–250 g. Fur color ranges from brownish gray to nearly black.

Distribution and habitat: Originating in Asia, rats have spread worldwide through human activity. They occupy urban environments, farms, sewers, and rural structures.

Behavior and ecology: Rats are highly adaptable, omnivorous, and predominantly nocturnal. They live in social groups with organized hierarchies, breed multiple times a year, and can produce many offspring in a single season.

Health and disease: Rats are vectors for several pathogens. They have historically been associated with plague via fleas, and they can carry leptospirosis, salmonellosis, and other infections that threaten human and animal health.

Control: Management emphasizes sanitation, exclusion of access to buildings, and trapping or targeted rodenticides as part of integrated pest management.

Human context: Rats have played roles as pests, laboratory animals, and symbols in culture and fiction due to their intelligence and adaptability.