Yes. Mine are kangaroo rats and don't seem to eat plants

I got home from walking the dogs to find a HUGE rat sitting on the rabbit cage on the front porch! Rat bait is now everywhere.
Tally Ho!

Kangaroo rats? .... kind of a disturbing mental image. The roof rats here just started stripping the nearly ripe peaches by night and seem to be tag teaming with the squirrels working by day.

A neighbor told me they are Norwegian rats. There are some living in my downspouts. I flooded a couple and a whole bunch of flower petals came out. I set out traps and have only managed to kill one.

We have both Norway and roof rats in our area. They do love the numerous pipes draining into our alley. We put those metal mesh plugs at the top of our downspouts to keep them from gaining access to the gutters and roof. A couple of these have been popped out over the years, but not clear if it was the rats pushing from below or the squirrels pulling from above.

They seem to descend on our yard about the time our stand of Turk's Cap is setting fruit and providing thick sprawling cover. Not sure they like those fruits, but know they go for the peaches and any melons that start to ripen around the same time.

cats eat rats

Rat snakes eat rats too.

"The presence of this snake in any setting near human habitation is a strong indicator that rodents such as rats and mice are also in the vicinity. These snakes are effective and efficient predators of disease spreading rodents. Diseases such as the plague and Hantavirus can be fatal to humans and have been identified from rodent nest in the Tarrant County. Fortunately, snakes are immune to these and do not transmit the illnesses to people. Asides from disease, rats and mice are responsible for damage to buildings, crops, and homes. Because of the benefit this snake serves, it should not be killed or molested."

Here is a link that might be useful: Texas rat snake. Scroll down for photos ...

speaking of turks cap, you know it never dawned on me the fruits were edible. I just assumed they were run of the mill seed pods I'm sure y'all have done your homework...no toxicity? What do they taste like? Mine has about outgrown its britches and I'm planning on moving it but may wait and try the fruit if they're safe.

Sorry, back on topic :)

Jays and other birds eat our Turk's Cap fruits. They also tend to vanish overnight, so am pretty sure the rats and/or opossums like them, too. A number of sources confirm the fruits are edible - though I've never tried them. TAMU Texas native plant DB entry for Malvaviscus drummondii says they have a "mealy" taste... which is not terribly enticing. Apparently much of the plant is edible.

Here is a link that might be useful: Turk's Cap on Foraging Texas