General: Black Rats (Rattus rattus), are native to Asia, but they spread throughout Europe and then the rest of the world during the early days of worldwide exploration when European mice and rats were carried on sailing ships. As such, these mice are well naturalized to urban environments everywhere. Black Rats can occasionally can be found in native environments, but usually associated with humans. Black Rats are good climbers and will climb trees or other structures to avoid danger.

Around Las Vegas, look for Black Rats in urban environments, more common in temperate coastal areas.

Black Rats, via the fleas they carry, were responsible for bubonic plague outbreaks (black death) in Europe in the 1340s.

Head and Body: 7-8-inches long. Dorsal fur gray-brown or black, short; ventral fur lighter, but never white.

Tail: To about 9-10 inches long. Little hair; appears scaly; about the same color on the top and bottom.

Ears: Short and rounded.

Weight: 5 to 10 oz (to about 280 g).

Comments:

Black Rat; note the gray fir and naked, scaly tail.