Norway rats on Breaksea Island, New Zealand, have been reported to eat invertebrates (beetles, spiders, wetas and flies), fish, shellfish, vegetation, and birds. A Japanese study showed that Rattus norvegicus is essentially omnivorous, eating plant matter and animal matter (eg. insects) in equal volumes (Yabe, 2004). Norway rats have also been known to attack and kill young rabbits (Bettesworth, 1972; B. Zonfrillo, pers. comm.; M. Imber, pers. obs.; in Imber et al., 2000).

Both R. norvegicus and Rattus rattus transmit the plague bacterium (Yersinia pestis) via fleas in certain areas of the world. There have been a series of recent outbreaks in Madagascar in recent years (Boiser et al. 2002).

Physical: Trapping is often used on a local scale, however it generally fails to remove all individuals, as trap-shy animals can survive and repopulate the island (DoC, 2004).

Chemical: Use of anticoagulant poisons is the most common method of control. On islands, eradications have been achieved by the use of poisons. However, strict quarantine is required to prevent further spread of this species to additional islands. One of the world's largest successful eradication operations was on the 3,100 hectare Langara Island in British Columbia, Canada. The eradication campaign was begun (after preparation and trials) in July 1995 and the island was declared free of rats in May 1997 (Kaiser et al., 1997). Another example of a successful rat eradication was on Kapiti Island, New Zealand (1970 ha) where \"second-generation\" anticoagulant poisons have been used (Empson and Miskelly, 1999). The world's largest rat eradication project to date is on Campbell Island (11,300 ha), where eradication was declared in 2003. \r\n

Fisher et al. (2004) suggest that diphacinone especially, and also coumatetralyl and warfarin, should be evaluated in field studies as alternative rodenticides in New Zealand. Brodifacoum, the most widely used rodenticide in New Zealand currently, can acquire persistent residues in non-target wildlife. Mineau et al. (2004) discussed a risk assessment of second generation rodenticides at the 2nd National Invasive Rodent Summit. O'Connor and Eason (2000) discusses the variety of baits which are available for use on offshore islands in New Zealand.

An investigation Spurr et al. (2007) was carried out to assess the behavioural response of ship rats to four different bait station types. Yellow plastic pipe, wooden box (‘rat motel’), and wooden tunnel bait stations were found all suitable for surveillance of ship rats and the first two at least for Norway rats (all were readily entered and had a similar amount of bait eaten from them).

Biological: Contraceptive methods of control are currently experimental, but the potential for effective control using contraceptive methods is promising. National Wildlife Research Center (USA) scientists are working on several possible formulations that may make effective oral immunisation possible (Nash and Miller, 2004).