Brown Rat

Brown Rat is one of Kingston's more-than-human neighbours. They've lived alongside humans for thousands of years, following food, shelter, warmth, and water into the places we build. The rat in your alley, the rat in a laboratory, and the beloved pet rat are the same species: Rattus norvegicus.

What happens when you meet Brown Rat as a neighbour rather than a pest?

Brown Rat kin card

Brown Rat has their own story about the city we share. Their kin card invites you into their world: the routes they follow, the relationships they maintain, the infrastructure they inhabit, the ways they adapt, and the kin who live alongside them.

📥 Download Brown Rat Kin Card (PDF, 80KB)

Brown Rat at the planning table

Brown Rat already lives in your neighbourhood. What happens when you invite them into the conversation about the future of the city?

📥 Download Brown Rat at the planning table (PDF, 105KB)

Notice: Brown Rat prefers to travel along edges. Where pavement meets soil. Wall meets ground. Building meets access road.

Act: Secure garbage and compost bins. Seal gaps. Bring bird feeders indoors at night. Support the predators who share our city. Avoid rodenticides. Work with your neighbours.

Need help: Looking for planting ideas? Little Forests Kingston and 1000 Islands Master Gardeners can help you choose plants that create habitat for the kin who share your yard.

Get involved: Little Forests Kingston is growing. We're looking for people who want to build relationships with the land and tend them over time. Forest Stewards, Neighbourhood Weavers, Community Scientists, Seed Keepers and more. You don't need to arrive knowing everything. Do any of these roles call to you?