Rats build nests from soft material such as paper, cloth, or straw. They live in family groups and defend their area from other rats. The average rat lives about one year. During this time a female rat may been seven litters, each with 6-12 young. Rats are most active at night and will travel about 100 feet from their nest in search of food and water.
Rats like to live as close as possible to their food.
They will eat almost any type of food, but prefer it be fresh. Rats may become accustomed to eating one type of food and choose it over others. They will stop eating food that has made them ill. Each time the rat leaves the nest it travels the same path. Outdoors the runway may appear as a trail in the grass or dirt.