Roof rats are long rats with thin bodies. They typically grow from six to eight inches long, with tails that double their length to twelve to sixteen inches. Roof rats have brown fur, with black hairs mixed in. Their underbellies can be lighter or darker than the rest of their fur. They have bare, scaly tails, large eyes, and large ears.
Roof rats are thinner, lighter, and more nimble than Norway rats. Their tails are also longer than the tails of Norway rats. While Norway rats tend to stay on lower levels when they get into buildings, roof rats are excellent climbers and are usually found in upper-level rooms.
Roof rats are not picky eaters. In fact, they’ll eat almost anything they can find. Because of this, much of their diets are dictated by where they live. Roof rats that live near fields or gardens will eat a lot of seeds, nuts, and fruits, while roof rats that live near bodies of water will have a lot of fish in their diets.
In addition to the foods mentioned above, roof rats also eat snails, slugs, and insects. If they get into your house, they will eat any of the food they can access, including human food and pet food.
Roof rats are very dangerous. Although they prefer to be left alone and are unlikely to attack if unprovoked, they will be aggressive if they feel like they are being threatened. Although a scratch or bite from a roof rat can be harmful to your health, that’s not the only way they transmit diseases.
Roof rats are the rats that spread the bubonic plague, known as the Black Death, in the 1300s. Although bubonic plague is rare today, there are still a few cases in the United States each year. The greater risk with roof rats is getting an illness, such as salmonellosis or food poisoning, from contaminated food.
Roof rats can also introduce parasites into your house, like fleas, that can spread other diseases. All in all, a roof rat infestation is a serious risk to the health and well-being of you and your loved ones.
In addition to being bad for your health, roof rats are dangerous to your home. Like other rodents, they are destructive to property because of their need to constantly chew to wear their ever-growing teeth down.
When roof rats get into your home, they will chew on insulation, electrical wiring, duct work, pipes, and your personal belongings. Nothing is safe from damage. Of course, some elements of your home pose a greater problem when they are damaged. If your wiring becomes damaged, your electrical systems can stop working and there is a greater risk of fire. Similarly, if pipes get holes in them, you could end up dealing with flooding and water damage.
Roof rats get into homes through openings as small as a nickel. Although an open garage door provides easy access to your home, roof rats will also follow pipes, use branches as bridges to access your roof, or chew through your siding. Even if you don’t have any holes that are large enough for a roof rat to squeeze through, they can chew around an opening until it gets to a size that works for them.
Roof rats nest in colonies and prefer upper levels. If they get into your house, you’re most likely to find them in the attic, but you may also find them in storage areas. Occasionally, they’ll nest at lower levels.
Roof rats usually provide many signs of their presence when they get into your house. These include:
Roof rats only live for about a year, but they reproduce quickly in that time. Females can begin reproducing at as young as two months of age. Most litters have anywhere from five to eight baby roof rats, and females can have multiple litters a year. Because they are social creatures, a roof rat infestation can quickly grow quite large.
The best way to get rid of roof rats is to get professional rodent control. Roof rats are dangerous pests, and they’re not easy to eliminate through DIY methods. Homeowners often set out traps, thinking it will take care of the problem, but this usually only allows them to catch a small handful of the rats that are in their home.
The Pied Piper provides effective roof rat control services to eliminate the infestation.
To prevent roof rats, a combination of DIY preventative measures and ongoing rodent prevention services from The Pied Piper is your best bet. Take the time to make your house difficult to access and free of things that attract roof rats. This includes:
For help with roof rats, or to implement a prevention plan, contact The Pied Piper today!
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