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The black rat is nocturnal by nature, especially in the wild, but in well hidden, dark corners of barns and warehouses it may be active at all hours. Although basically a plant eater, it does in fact eat almost anything it can find, particularly when living in close proximity to man. Wild populations tend to eat fresh and dry fruit, seeds of all kinds, broad-leaved plants and tree bark, but they will also seize the opportunity to eat insects, slugs and snails, bird's eggs and nestlings. They also store excess food, often in places that are some way away from their nests.

Although not a truly social animal, the black rat is not totally solitary. It normally lives within a small family group, organised on a hirearchical basis and dominated by one individual. Breeding is seasonal in wild populations, but rats that have all year round harbourage and food will breed all the time

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