The roof rat (Rattus rattus) is not a native species. These rats are from Asia but were brought to America by English ships carrying settlers. Roof rats became established in the Phoenix area starting in 2001.
Description
Roof rats are brown, gray, or black. Their tails are naked and long enough to be curled around its nose. The ears are large and almost naked. An adult rat is 7-8 inches long, excluding the tail.
Habitat And Behavior
Roof rats are generally dependent on humans for food and shelter. They are nocturnal. Roof rats are omnivores and especially love fruit. They will often eat the pulp of an orange and leave the peel still on the tree. Roof rats like to climb and prefer to find food and shelter above ground. They will climb trees and use overhanging branches to drop down onto roofs. From there, they nest in attics, behind soffits, in overhead garage storage, woodpiles, vines covering buildings, and similar places. If it is hot and dry, roof rats may dig shallow burrows to get out of the heat.
Problems Roof Rats Cause
Roof rats in Queens Creek are dangerous. They can carry leptospirosis, rat-bite fever, tularemia, salmonellosis. They spread these by contaminating foodstuffs with urine and feces, by crawling on food-preparation areas and utensils, and by direct bites. They can also spread fleas, which are dangerous in their own right. Rats damage insulation, which they tear up to make nests. They also like to chew wires and may cause fires by doing so. Roof rats are noisy, running up and down areas during the night. They also leave strong smells of urine and feces where they have been.
Preventing Roof Rats
Roof rats can go through a hole that is the size of a quarter. It is necessary to keep that in mind when trying to exclude them from a building. It is easier to prevent roof rats than to deal with an infestation. Below are some things you can do to keep roof rats away from your home.
- Prune trees so branches do not touch or hang over the roof.
- Prune shrubs so the ground can be seen below them.
- Keep trash in a rat-proof container with a tight-fitting lid.
- Remove pet food at night.
- Remove pet watering bowls at night.
- Keep food in rat-proof containers.
- Harvest citrus and other fruit promptly and pick up fruit from the ground.
- Remove birdseed from under feeders.
- Stack lumber and firewood at least a foot from walls and fences and at least 18 inches off the ground.
- Seal openings with concrete mortar, steel or copper wool, or metal flashing.
- Seal openings around pipes, electrical wires, and cables where they enter the house.
- Cover attic and foundation vents with ¼ inch wire mesh.
- Cover chimneys with a rodent and bird cap.
There are two things that do not work. There is no effective rat repellent. The devices that cause a high-pitched sound may initially work, but the rats soon get used to the sound and ignore it.
Dealing With Inside Roof Rats
Once roof rats get inside, it is difficult to get rid of them. Pro Active Pest Control can help. We will inspect your house to see where the rats are getting into the house and tell you what needs to be done to keep them out. We will also trap the rats inside. Finally, we will clean and sanitize the attic and other places they have been. We will come out quarterly or every other month and make sure no rats or other pests have gained entry into your home. Call Pro Active Pest Control today and get rid of your rats.