How Roof Rats Get In

Here s how homeowners can help prevent roof rat infestations.

How roof rats get in.

Becoming sexually mature in a matter of months roof rats typically have five to eight pups per litter and four to six litters per year. Though transmission is rare today there are still a handful of cases in the u s. Roof rats can also get into your home in other ways including. It is essential to take immediate action once you notice any sign that rats are in your home.

Roof rats can also carry fleas and spread diseases such as typhus via fleas infectious jaundice via urine in water or food rat bite fever via bites trichinosis via undercooked pork and salmonellosis via droppings. There are several ways to eradicate roof rats and some methods will be discussed below. The roof rats become sexually mature in just a couple months. Traveling along power lines.

Step 1 in order to assess the severity of the rat problem and to get a better idea of where to bait and trap you will first need to perform a thorough inspection of the premises. They have 4 6 litters per year. This is because these rodents are carriers of a lot of killer diseases. In late fall roof rats seek out warm nesting sites like the upper levels of your home or garage.

Females become sexually mature in 68 90 days with 5 8 pups per litter. You can use rat poison to get rid of roof rats. The roof rat get to know the enemy if the scurrying sound comes from above and keeps you up at night then your unwelcome guests have probably invaded your house s roof and ceiling. These rodents can get to the roof from the branches of trees.

Roof rats have smooth fur pointy noses and large dark eyes. Best ways to control roof rats. Climbing rough surfaces such as brick and concrete blocks. Because the roof rats climb well common nesting sites are above the ground.

They use tree limbs for travelling and easily get into your attic if there are open areas to squeeze through. Most species of rat look similar and it can be difficult to tell between a roof rat and the common norway rat but there are some telltale ways to distinguish between the two. Chances are you re dealing with roof rats also known as black rats. Get rid of roof rats in four basic steps.

Contact maricopa county vector control at 602 506 0700 with questions about setting your own traps trap rats with large spring loaded bait stations that you can purchase at hardware or feed stores eliminate other sources of food before trapping. The roof rat is smaller than a norway rat growing to be between 6 and 8 inches in body length with an additional 6 to 8 inches in the tail. Climbing vines near the home. Trim all tree branches to further prevent.