Black Rat (Rattus rattus) is in the Old World Mice and Rats family (Muridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,944 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in October.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Black Rat: observations by month (U.S.)
About Black Rat
The black rat (Rattus rattus), also known as the ship rat, roof rat, house rat, is a common long-tailed rodent of the genus Rattus (rats) in the subfamily Murinae. The species originated in tropical Asia and spread through the Near East in Roman times before reaching Europe by the 1st century and spreading with Europeans across the world.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Black Rat by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,608 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Florida | 694 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Texas | 672 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Oregon | 266 | October | Jul–May |
| Washington | 239 | September | Jun–Nov |
| Hawaii | 105 | March | Sep–Jul |
| Louisiana | 79 | August | Jul–Jun |
| Georgia | 53 | October | Feb–Dec |
| Arizona | 38 | August | Apr–Dec |
| Nevada | 28 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Alabama | 27 | October | Feb–Oct |
| Mississippi | 26 | October | Oct–Jan |
| South Carolina | 26 | January | Jan–Feb |
| Virginia | 24 | April | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 19 | May | May–Jun |
| North Carolina | 18 | September | Feb–Sep |
| Arkansas | 12 | May | May–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related mammals (Old World Mice and Rats)
Photography tips
- Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
- Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
- Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Black Rat?
Nationally, October has the most observations, with the main season from September to August.
Where is Black Rat most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Florida, Texas.