Roof rats are still rare as companion animals, and rarer still as a carefully bred, well-socialized line. A few people are quietly working to change that. Here is one of them, in her own words.
Hello everyone. My name is Kerry Poulin and I run High Seas Rattery in Eastern New York, a small Rattery specializing in Rattus rattus (also known as ship rats hence the name High Seas, roof rats or black rats).
My story
My relationship with these wonderful animals began when I was living in Florida in February 2020, right before the start of COVID. My son was given a litter of 5 eyes closed baby rats that no wildlife rehabilitator would take. We took turns feeding them every 3 hours around the clock until they were old enough to take care of themselves and ready for release. But one of them was different, a female that we called Bonnie. The others became more wild as they matured but Bonnie wanted to be with people! She stayed out of the cage with us every chance she got and followed us around everywhere we went! She never ran away.
When it was time for release we prepared the soft release box for her and her siblings and chose a place for them, where they wouldn’t get into people’s homes. But she wouldn’t stay. She leaped out of the box and clung to us, as if begging us to bring her back home. She chose us! And after that she was our constant companion for the next almost 3 years. She was the most rewarding pet I’ve ever owned and a beloved part of our family.
I began to wonder why no one had ever tried breeding these rats the way that Norway rats were bred domestically? As it turned out there was one person who does, and I ended up adopting a mother daughter pair who also ended up being cherished pets, endlessly charming and affectionate, and entertaining with their antics. Three unique personalities. All a positive experience. I was hooked. I wanted to share these delightful creatures with the world.
I had moved back to my home state of NY, and roof rats just don’t live in this area and there is no one who breeds them in this region. After long months of careful consideration, I decided to take the plunge and start my own small rattus rattus breeding group. With the cooperation of Alexandria at Blackwood Burrow Rattery in Western NY I will be able to exchange rats with her to maintain genetic diversity and yet keep a small, well socialized group. I will be dedicated to providing ethically bred, healthy, friendly babies on a small scale to those who also wish to keep roof rats as pets. Looking forward to hearing from you!
Everyone is sleeping right now in their space pods and hammocks 😴
— Kerry
The roof rats at High Seas Rattery
You can meet more roof-rat keepers and their rats in the roof rat registry.
Filed under The Line & Domestication
