However there are reports of black rats living up to 4 years under captivity.
Life expectancy of roof rats.
Sexual maturity is attained within 5 weeks and they start mating to produce a new generation of rats.
The rat lifespan may be shortened by predation.
During that year however they can create a lot of new rats and a lot of damage.
Life expectancy for rats is about two to three years.
Roof rats are prolific breeders and multiply at a frighteningly fast rate.
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.
Rats have no breeding season bu have a breeding system.
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.
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.
Building tenants and owners should act quickly at the first sign of rat infestation.
However many rats die after the first year due to predation and interspecies conflict.