Knowing where they are likely to go is important for controlling them. Rats use any method to get to food, water or harbourage. Their excellent sense of balance enables them to run on pipes, narrow ledges, and utility wires. Rats, especially roof rats, will climb anything their claws will hold on to, including wires, pipes, and rough walls. Because rats are excellent swimmers, they often live in sewers and occasionally enter homes through toilets.
Rats like to use regular paths or runways along walls or behind debris.
To get food in the open, they will run behind things to get as close to the food as possible. They are afraid of strange objects or strange food and may avoid both. Norway and roof rats are both aggressive species. The Norways are usually more aggressive, driving roof rats from the territory. Both species are seldom found in the same building.