Negotiated Project: Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus)

The Brown Rat is a common species of mammal, that can be found across the entirety of the country.
The rat is commonly seen as a pest by many, as it can be a very invasive species, that can carry and spread diseases via their fleas, parasites, and ticks.
They can adapt well to their surroundings, and can make a home out of almost anything.
Rats can live up to 3 years, and they can breed and spread very rapidly.

http://www.rentokil.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Common-Brown-Rat.jpg < image reference at this link.

Rats are much larger than mice, and can be distinguished by their long nose, their scaly tail, and their often scraggy appearance.
Rats are omnivorous, meaning that they can eat practically any source of food, and often scavenge.
They are a huge problems in cities, as they feast of leftover scraps of food dropped by Humans.
Rats have teeth that constantly grow, only being filed down by gnawing, and the consumption of food.

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01862/ratsswarm_1862369c.jpg < image reference at this link.

Recently these animals have been a huge problem for developing areas in the country, as Rats seek settlements where more food, and shelter is more available to them.
This is why they are so common in urban areas, which offer an unlimited amount of waste food and shelter.
Because of this, they are getting bigger in size, and are becoming more common alongside humans.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44307000/jpg/_44307921_rat_416.jpg < image reference at this link.

http://www.batconsultancy.co.uk/brown_rat.jpg < image reference at this link.

Most rats spend a lot of their time in hiding, which is why we do not see these animals very often in the day.
They hide to avoid detection by their natural predators, which includes birds of prey, foxes, and other animals.