Rats cause structural and aesthetic damage to the interior and exterior of homes. They contaminate food and carry diseases, risking your and your family’s health. It is crucial to address a rat problem as soon as you notice rat activity.
The Norway rat is the most common rat pest in the U.S., but in Florida, the roof rat is the dominant rat species. The tropical climate, miles of coastline, and agricultural facilities like ranches, hog farms, and citrus groves provide ideal conditions for the palm rat to thrive.
Roof rats are known to carry diseases, fleas, and ticks. More than 30 diseases can be spread by roof rats, including hantavirus, infectious jaundice, salmonellosis, tularemia, and food poisoning. The spread occurs when they urinate in your water, chew food in your pantry, or leave droppings on your countertops and appliances. They can also transmit diseases to any pets you have.
What Does a Roof Rat Look Like?
Roof rats have smooth hair, large ears, a pointy nose, and a tail longer than their body. While its body is black, its belly is gray. The Alexandrine rat appears gray, but its fur is agouti, meaning there is more than one color on each strand of hair. You may also see brown and yellow blends of fur. The fruit rat is agouti on its back but white on its belly.
No matter the subspecies, roof rats, including their tail, are usually no longer than 16 inches long.
Where Do Roof Rats Live in Tampa Homes?
Roof rats are one of the most common pests in Florida. Dr. William Kern, an associate professor in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS FLREC) said roof rats are a “coastal phenomenon” usually not found beyond 100 to 300 miles from the coast.
Florida has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States with 1197 statute miles. The furthest point in Florida from the ocean (74 miles) is where the Suwanee River crosses into Georgia.
Where do roof rats nest in your home?
Roof rats got their name because they are excellent climbers. They are often seen on roofs, attics, trees, walls, trusses, and beams. Roof rats are usually part of a colony.
Roof rats got their name because they are excellent climbers and prefer to nest above the ground (palm trees, citrus trees, etc). They are often seen on roofs, attics, trees, walls, trusses, and beams. Roof rats are usually part of a colony. If they can’t find a way to shelter up high, they will build nests in wood piles, basements, clutter, or shrubs. They prefer to have a roof of some kind over their heads.
If they can’t find a way to shelter up high, they will build nests in wood piles, basements, clutter, or shrubs. They prefer to have a roof of some kind over their heads.
Where do roof rats nest in your home?
Roof rats got their name because they are excellent climbers. They are often seen on roofs, attics, trees, walls, trusses, and beams. Roof rats are usually part of a colony.
Roof rats got their name because they are excellent climbers and prefer to nest above the ground (palm trees, citrus trees, etc). They are often seen on roofs, attics, trees, walls, trusses, and beams. Roof rats are usually part of a colony. If they can’t find a way to shelter up high, they will build nests in wood piles, basements, clutter, or shrubs. They prefer to have a roof of some kind over their heads.
If they can’t find a way to shelter up high, they will build nests in wood piles, basements, clutter, or shrubs. They prefer to have a roof of some kind over their heads.
Signs of 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 colony is just beginning its nesting and feeding activities for the night.
how to Get Rid of roof rats
There are several effective methods for getting rid of Norway rats, all of which should be done by trained professionals because they know the correct methods to address infestations. There is rarely just one rat in the area. Additionally, there is a risk of worsening the infestation if initial methods do not work. Professionals know how to eliminate an infestation the first time successfully. Below are some examples.
Rat Trapping
The size of the infestation determines the number of traps to use and the right bait. Snap traps are usually the first line of treatment. One trap for an infestation of twenty will not go well. Even with the correct number of traps, the process can take up to two weeks.
With both traps and stations like those detailed below, expect Norway rats to take several days to adjust to something new in their environment. Professionals recommend placing bait traps somewhere between the rats’ nest and food source, but not directly in their path. Place them along baseboards or near burrows.
Baits for Norway rats can include tiny portions of peanut butter, meat, chocolate, gummies, cheese, or fruit. Because rats are omnivores, they are not picky eaters.
Prevent Roof Rat Infestations
Setting baits and traps without implementing exclusions means you will soon have another rat infestation. Exclusions are what keep roof rats from entering your home in the future.
Exclusions are best when done by a professional who can adequately seal every entry point ½” or larger with heavy-duty materials that the roof rats cannot chew through, like concrete or thick metal. For smaller or harder-to-reach areas, caulk buttressed with hardware cloth or galvanized steel mesh will stop roof rats.
Bait Stations for Rodent Control
With larger infestations, bait stations may be a better option. It may take over two weeks to eliminate all the Norway rats in your house. Bait stations are boxes that allow rodents to enter. Once inside, they consume toxic bait. Most Norway rats do not leave the box, but if they can, they carry the toxic materials back to their nests, where other rats will also consume them.