11002-19224 Norway or brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) attacking and eating a tree weta. This is the largest rat found in New Zealand, mainly around waterways (coastal and freshwater), in towns and around farms. Norway rats are omnivorous and have a very broad and varied diet. They have been recorded eating seeds, fruits, leaves, lizards, insects, molluscs, crustaceans, the eggs and young of burrowing seabirds, stored grain, animal carcasses, garbage, and even sewage. This was the first European rodent to become established in New Zealand arriving in the 1770's *
11002-19102 Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) eating weta. This is the largest rat found in New Zealand, mainly around waterways (coastal and freshwater), in towns and around farms. Norway rats are omnivorous and have a very broad and varied diet. They have been recorded eating seeds, fruits, leaves, lizards, insects, molluscs, crustaceans, the eggs and young of burrowing seabirds, stored grain, animal carcasses, garbage, and even sewage. This was the first European rodent to become established in New Zealand arriving in the 1770's *6/18
DSC_9405 West Coast giant forest weta (Hemideina broughi) male foraging in Mountain beech and Usnea. Denniston Plateau *
