The roof rat is one of the most abundant and destructive pests in Florida. Roof rats consume and destroy stored animal and human food, attack fruit crops, and take up residence in attics, soffits, hollow walls, and outbuildings.
Roof rats got their name because they tend to make their nests in high places above ground. Once they have entered your home, they will make their way to the attic, wall spaces, and above your ceiling.
Rats are a danger to humans, their pets, and especially citrus farms. They spread disease through their urine and feces, and the fleas that have bitten them can then bite you. During the citrus season, they feast on ripened fruit and vegetables. Their immediate removal from your home and property is required.
Roof Rat Control
The idea of rats in your home is not something that should be taken lightly. Call Critter Control and we’ll prepare a roof rat control plan to:
- Remove the rats from your home
- Disinfect and clean up the damage they caused
- Replace any ruined attic insulation
- Repair any wiring, ducts or structure that has been damaged
- Seal up all entry points to keep them out.
Signs of a Roof Rat Infestation
Typically, roof rats build nests in attics and inside the walls of your home. That means colonies of roof rats can live closer to you and your family than you’d like. Seeing a roof rat, dead or alive, is a sign of an infestation. There is rarely only one rat living in a location.
If a roof rat is in your attic, you will likely see shredded insulation and drywall, chewed electrical wires, and nests plugging vents and ducts, all creating fire hazards. Other signs include the following:
- Droppings. Roof rat droppings or feces are usually about ½” long and have pointy ends. If the droppings are moist and soft, they are fresh. They are old if they are hard and dry or easy to crumble. Both are unsanitary. Adult roof rats can leave fifty or more droppings every day.
- Gnaw marks. Roof rats, like other rodents, have teeth that continually grow throughout their lifetime. The larger their teeth get, the more painful. Roof rats will chew and gnaw on any material to keep their teeth short to avoid this pain. They can chew through wood, plastic, vinyl, fabric, etc. It is likely due to rat activity if you see gnaw marks on furniture, baseboards, wires, or anything else.
- Odor. Roof rats leave a strong, musky odor in areas where they are active. Much of the odor results from urine trails, which they leave everywhere they go. The stronger the smell, the larger the infestation.
- Sounds. Roof rats make distinctive noises when active at night. Squeaking, squealing, chirping, chattering, purring, and grunting are a few of the sounds a roof rat can make. The noises become incredibly annoying when you try to fall asleep, and your local rat col
Rat Trapping and Extermination
Trapping is the most effective method of rat control. The size of the infestation will determine the number of traps, the types of traps, and the rat bait to use. Infestation size also determines the process’s length, which can range from a few days to weeks. With a large colony, other control measures, including tamper-resistant bait stations, may be required around the perimeter of your structure.
The sooner you call the professionals for help, the sooner trapping and rat removal can begin. They take care of everything, including proper disposal and sanitization, so all evidence of rats is removed.
Post-Removal Cleanup and Remediation
After removing the animal, the wildlife service technician applies sanitization agents to ensure the area is clean and won’t affect you or your family. Any traces of rat feces or urine can lead to unwanted consequences, including attracting more rodents and growing mold spores. Technicians will thoroughly disinfect where necessary, including removing dead rats. With that, you can breathe easier in your own home. Beyond sanitation, our specialists will help with certain repairs, such as replacing damaged insulation.
Rat Pest Control through Exclusion
If you successfully remove every rat in your home but do not implement exclusion and prevention techniques, your home is at risk for future rat activity. One of our technicians’ first exclusion methods is to seal up all quarter-inch or larger entry points.
A few common entry points include:
- foundation cracks
- loose-fitting screens
- holes for pipes
- chimneys
- loose soffits
Rats will likely gnaw through materials like plastic, wood, and caulking to enter your home. The professionals will use sealants, wire mesh, and other rat-proofing structures to safeguard your home.
Recurring Rat Pest Control Solutions
The rat removal steps above will give your home a much-needed reset. However, rats are clever and persistent and may try to reenter your home. Their search for food, water, and shelter may lead them back to your home, where they may try to create new entry points.
You can take management steps after completing the rat rodent control process to ensure your home remains safe. For instance, regularly scheduled monitoring appointments with a professional can ensure you don’t experience future rat problems. Technicians search for new entry points and any signs of rat activity inside and outside your home. If they find something, they can fix the problem right away.
How to Prevent Roof Rats in South Florida
Since rats carry so many diseases, you should never attempt to remove rats on your own. Only trained professionals, like the ones at Critter Control®, know how to safely and effectively remove your rat infestation for good.
It is highly recommended to never poison rats that have invaded your home, as doing so will most likely trade one problem with another one. Poisoned rats will find a safe space, deep inside your walls or attic, to curl up and die. Their carcass will smell terrible as the rots and decomposes. You could also be killing mothers, leaving their babies to die.
Stay up-to-date on repairs and maintenance
Resolving a rat problem is just as much about preventing it as treating is. Sealing up holes, cracks, or other access points in exterior and interior walls can limit access to your home. Rats can squeeze their bodies through any gap that their heads will fit through, which is often less than an inch in diameter. Keeping your garbage cans tightly closed and eliminating sources of outdoor water will help make your property seem less attractive to rats, as well.
Eliminate roof access
Roof rats are excellent climbers, and will use that skill to find a way into your home. The best way to keep that from happening is to make sure no tree branches are touching your roof or extending over the top of your house.
Store food appropriately
Using airtight containers to store leftovers and other foods in your kitchen, as well as using heavy-duty trash receptacles, will keep rats from using your home as an easy food source. Storing foods in rooms that are not easy for rats to access will further help prevent your home from becoming their all-you-can-eat buffet.
What Can You Do About a Roof Rat Infestation?
If you suspect you have rodents in your home – even if you have only seen them once or perhaps just the evidence they leave behind – it is always best to call a professional to trap and exterminate them. Rodent removal should always be done by a professional like the ones at Critter Control®. Our experts are trained in not only removing the rodents from your home, but also keeping them out for good.