The maximum life a rat can have is three years yet the majority of the rats found in populated areas live for maximum one year due to inter species conflict and predation.
Life expectancy of roof rats.
Life expectancy for rats is about two to three years.
However many rats die after the first year due to predation and interspecies conflict.
As researched by the university of michigan animal diversity web roof rats in the wild live up to is about 12 months.
Rarely do rats live for more than a year in the wild.
The rat lifespan may be shortened by predation.
Roof rats are prolific breeders and multiply at a frighteningly fast rate.
However there are reports of black rats living up to 4 years under captivity.
Sexual maturity is attained within 5 weeks and they start mating to produce a new generation of rats.
The rodents reach sexual maturity in about five weeks and begin mating soon after to produce the next generation to start the rat life cycle over again.
Building tenants and owners should act quickly at the first sign of rat infestation.
Common causes of death for a rat include vehicles domestic cats and some dogs winged animals such as hawks or owls coyotes foxes weasels and snakes.
Just one adult female can create more than 40 new rats in a year.