zx12edge 1,001 Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 Been shooting a lot of rats over the last few months all brown rats. Last night i shot a couple of black rats first i have seen tbh. Anyone else see many black rats are they becoming more common these days? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TOMO 29,264 Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 They were proberbly black,,, brown rats mate if you get my drift,,,, and without checking I think the black rat,,,ratus ratus ,,, might be protected as there a very few in this country,,,, 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zx12edge 1,001 Posted March 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 Had a look on the web and it says The black rat is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (). It is not legally protected in the UK. No conservation designations. Maybe your right Tomo but i have never seen a brown rat look so black as these did and they seemed a lot more agile than the brown ones I shoot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisJones 7,975 Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 Rattus rattus tends to keep himself confined to the dockland areas. I've seen them in Liverpool and Canary Wharf. As Tomo said, you're probably seeing a black coated version of Rattus norvegicus. The major competitor for rat stomping grounds. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MoChara 1,632 Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 I had thought I saw a jet black one scurry out of my barn last year but I can't say for sure was too fast. Weird looking though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Blackbriar 8,569 Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 I too was under the impression that brown rats are on general license, but blacks not. Lets ask Matt........ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisJones 7,975 Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 Both. They're still a public health nuisance. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Born Hunter 17,960 Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 The General License only pertains to birds. All other legitimate quarry species are covered by different legislation. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisJones 7,975 Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 covers Ratty 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mackem 30,063 Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 Anyone ever lived on jersey or guernsey (I forget which)I met a guy who said the rats there were an angora grey? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisJones 7,975 Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 I'd love to see that kind of variation. Through my career I only saw rats that were shit brown. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DIDO.1 22,864 Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 Think we need a pic to confirm. Ears and tail are different and a pic will quickly clear up. I'd say a black coloured brown Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MoChara 1,632 Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 The ones that come round here are grey? Ones down on the beach rocks are mix of brown and grey. Flip there's many different ones I didn't even know! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bosun11 537 Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 Black rats or ship rats (shippeys) are found only in a couple of specks. A couple of docks on the Mersey have em. I did a bit of pest control years back and we caught a few shippeys. They are different from browns. You'd know it if you came across one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MoChara 1,632 Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 Found this - Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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