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Black Rat, Rattus rattus
As their alternative name suggests, the Ship Rat, they were commonly found on ships, resulting in their distribution throughout the world.
During the day rats usually stay in their burrows and come out a night to search for food.
They eat meats, fish, flour, seeds, grains, fruits, vegetables and anything a human will eat. They eat 30g of food per day and drink about 15ml water each day. A rat must have water daily to survive.
Signs of Rats in and around your structure.
Droppings, which are soft when fresh, along well-travelled pathways, in feeding areas and near the rodent's shelter.
Tracks, including footprints and tail marks, on dusty surfaces, in mud and snow.
Urine along travelled paths or in feeding areas. Both wet and dry rodent urine will glow under ultraviolet light (black light).
Smudge or rub marks on beams, rafters, walls, pipes and other fixtures.
Gnawing marks on doors or ledges, in corners, in wall material, on stored material or on other surfaces.
Noises in the walls caused by gnawing, climbing, clawing, squeaks and fighting, particularly at night when rodents are most active.
Life span - Up to 18 months.
Body length - 10-24cm, Weight: 150-200g.
Physical Description - Black rats are very similar in appearance to brown rats, but they are slimmer, with relatively larger ears and a longer tail. Despite their name, they are typically grey brown, with a pale grey underside, but they may be completely black.
Distribution - Although native to Asia, black rats have spread all over the world. They have largely been replaced by the brown rat in Britain.
Habitat - Black rats are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats, typically near human habituation.
Diet - They are omnivorous, but are more partial to fruit than brown rats are.
Behaviour. Black rats live in male dominated groups. Fights are common, often initiated by the females. They are predominantly nocturnal, but they will sometimes forage for food in the day. As with brown rats, they have good auditory and olfactory senses, but black rats have better eyesight.
Reproduction - Most breeding activity occurs from March to November, and they produce 3-5 litters a year. Females give birth to 7-8 young after a gestation period of 23-24 days. They are weaned after 3-4 weeks.
Conservation status - Black rats are now one of the rarest mammals in the UK, but persist mainly around port towns, such as Liverpool, London, the Shiant Islands (Inner Hebrides) and Lundy island. They are subject to persistent pest control due to the damage they cause and the numerous diseases they spread, including bubonic plague, typhus and rabies.
Rats memorise specific pathways and use the same routes habitually. Rats are cautious and if their food is in a exposed place where it cannot be consumed quickly they will usually carry or drag it to a hiding place. Rats have a very well developed sense of taste enabling them to detect certain compounds, including poisons, at very low concentrations. Rats are omnivorous, eating nearly any type of food, including dead and dying members of their own species. Rats teeth grow up to 12.5 cm per year.
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