Statistics have shown that more rats prefer to live in urban areas rather than rural areas because they have easy access to food and shelter in the urban areas. It is easy for them to build nests in the walls, attics, and in clumps of nearby vegetation.  In addition, rats do not have adequate protection against predators in the wild. As many as 50% of rats in the wild are eaten up by larger rodents and reptiles such as alligators, crocodiles, snakes and even birds.