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ROOF RAT
Other Names: Black Rat, Fruit Rat, Ship Rat, Alexandrian Rat
If there is plenty of food and shelter, Roof Rats will gladly live in close proximity to humans, particularly in attics, ceilings, or wall areas. Roof rats inhabiting upper areas of buildings or homes often gnaw on wires found there, possibly leading to fires, outages, and production down-time. | | Description of the Roof Rat
Scientific Name: | Rattus Rattus | Color: | Black to brownish-gray; hard to identify by color alone | Weight: | 6-12 ounces; smaller than Norway Rat | Length: | 6-8 inches | Tail Length: | 7-10 inches; longer than the body | Body: | Thin, slender body, pointed nose | Ears: | Relatively small; close to body | Eyes: | Large & prominent eyes; color blind
| Lifespan: | 5 to 18 months | Droppings: | ½ inch long with pointed ends; dark color; found scattered | Reproduction of the Roof Rat Litter Size: | 4-8 pups per litter | No. of Litters: | 3-4 per year | Sexual Maturity: | 2-3 months | Gestation Period: | 22 days | Breeding Season: | Indoors: All year; Outdoors: Spring & Fall | Diet of the Roof Rat
|  | Daily Amount: | 0.5-1 ounce | Daily Water: | 1 ounce | Daily Food: | Fruits, berries, meats, seeds, vegetables, eggs | | | |
Habitat of the Roof Rat Geography: | Nearby coastal cities; as a general rule they do not occur more than 100 miles inland | Nest Location: | Nests in attics, false ceilings, dead fronds of palm trees, and upper portions of buildings | Home Range: | Up to 300 ft. from nest | Active Periods: | Nocturnal; most feeding occurs 30 minutes after sunset and before sunrise |
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