• Also known as ship rat or black rat
• Spreads disease through droppings and urine
• Lives in coastal areas - very common in seaports
• Adults weigh between 5-9 ounces
• Known as vegetarians because they prefer seeds - fruits - vegetables

• Also known as the house rat - most widely distributed rat in the United States
• Spreads disease through droppings and urine
  
• Stronger and more aggressive than roof rats - weighs between 12-16 ounces
• Adapted to cool climates better than other species, but found in all states
• Prefers meats and proteins to vegetables and fruits

• Lives in the southwestern states and desert areas
  
• Build nests in rocky crevices and underground chambers
  
• Feeds on cactus - mesquite and various leafy plants
  

• Can contaminate food and carry disease such as salmonellosis - rickettsial pox lymphocytic choriomenigitis - leptospirosis - ratbite fever - tularemia and dermatitis
  
• Can get through a hole the size of a dime
  
• Build nests out of string - insulation material - shredded paper
  
• Nest building causes damage to homes and businesses
  
• Found in all states in the U.S. and North America
  
• Poor vision is compensated for by heightened sense of smell - taste - hearing and touch