Black rats are an introduced commensal species in Alabama, and NatureServe’s SNA rank, not applicable, reflects that introduced species don’t receive a state conservation status. The record splits fairly evenly between iNaturalist (25) and GBIF (23), and Dauphin Island’s 2 logged sightings fit this species’ well-documented affinity for coastal ports and shipping routes, historically the primary vector for its spread.
October alone accounts for 6 of the year’s monthly-tallied records, roughly a quarter of the total, with a complete gap in November and December, a pattern that likely reflects seasonal observer activity along the coast rather than any real change in the rat’s own presence.
Full species profile
