We tested the behavioral effects of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in adult male rats. ICH was induced by collagenase injection into the basal ganglia and the rats were subjected to a longitudinal behavioral test battery. Both learning and memory deficits were detected shortly after injury. Two months after injury, there were still significant short- and long-term memory deficits. Rotarod testing also revealed long-term sensorimotor coordination deficits. No differences in activity levels were detected at any time. Thus, spontaneous ICH produced detectable cognitive and motor deficits that evolved over the course of 2 months. Along with histological analysis of infarct volume, this characterization provides a suitable baseline for the analysis of therapeutic interventions.