Black Rats

Latin Name: Rattus rattus

Months of Activity: January - December

The black rat is nocturnal and omnivorous, with a preference for grains and fruit. Compared to the brown rat, it is a poor swimmer, but more agile and a better climber, tending even to flee upwards.

In a suitable environment it will breed throughout the year, with a female producing three to six litters of up to ten young.

Appearance

A typical adult black rat is 32-45cm long, including a 17-25cm tail, and weighs 110-340g. Despite its name, the black rat exhibits several colour forms. It is usually black to light brown in colour with a lighter underside.

Lifecycle

Black rats nest both indoors and out, prefering high places such as trees and lofts, but sometimes in burrows under plants, in basements, sewers and under buildings.

The average life cycle of a black rat is 12-18 months, during which time, the female will typically breed up to six times, with the average litter being seven or eight. The gestation period takes between 20-22 days, and pups are weaned after 21-28 days. A black rat reaches sexual maturity after 3-4 months.

Breeding occurs throughout the year, but especially in the spring or autumn.

Pest Control

Preventing an infestation black rats can be achieved by rodent-proofing your home. If you already have an infestation, you should concentrate pest control where most droppings are found. Place traps and bait stations along runways, against vertical surfaces and wire glue boards to rafters and pipes.

Rats are cautious. Pre-baiting with non-toxic bait may be needed. They are also gluttonous, so use sufficient bait for 1, 2 or more meals. If you use any baits or other pesticide, be sure they are registered for this species, read the entire label first and strictly adhere to all directions, restrictions and precautions.

Latest News about Black Rats

Super Rats
The scale of the problem of rat infestations in towns and cities across the UK is continuing to grow, and one of the prime reasons for this increase is down to the way that Britons are disposing of their rubbish, which is the prime food source for th... [more]

Booming Vermin Populations
In many areas around the country, the council has cut back its pest control services to divert resources to "priority" causes, most notably recycling. Rubbish is collected every week but unfortunately in areas such as London, overflowing bins are a c... [more]

Bait Station Placement
Where a bait station, or more likely a group of stations, is located has a lot to do with a successful rodent control effort. As a pest management professional, you need to know where the rats or mice are nesting, travelling and feeding. Bait statio... [more]

The Rat Race
Pest rodents are the fourth-ranked top pest by volume of work, so why are rats and mice still such a focus of effort? Enough bait and traps have been sold in the past decade alone to kill millions of these pests, and no secrets exist in the life cyc... [more]

Crack Down on Nantwich Rat Problem
A Nantwich company is waging war on the town's growing rat problem by taking on extra staff to boost its pest control team. Environmental specialists Suddenstrike has been inundated with pleas for help from householders plagued by super-rats - some ... [more]

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