Roof Rat Damage

Roof rats damage homes where they live in the southern and western coastal states.

Roof rat damage.

Chewing on electrical wires. Indoors tracks will appear as clean paths. They also find paths down to kitchens and pantries where they eat and contaminate food. How serious are roof rats.

Roof rats can cause extensive and costly damage from. The roof rat gets its name from its tendency to find shelter in the upper parts of buildings. The rat zapper should be placed close to a roof rat nest or in their runways said ernie henson president and owner of stormin norman termite and pest control. However you need to know the signs of infestation that can alert you to their presence.

In attics the pests tear up insulation to build their nests and chew on the casing of electrical wires and pipes. Roof rats are also referred to as black rats or ship rats. Signs of an infestation of roof rats. Holes are typically 2 inches in diameter or larger and have rough edges.

Roof rats get ferocious and tend to bite or scratch when threatened or cornered. From rat bites and scratches to saliva and urine rats can cause many diseases. Tracks roof rats will make paths also known as tracks or runways that identify their movements. This is the way roof rats typically spread diseases like plague salmonellosis.

You won t always see roof rats because they are nocturnal and forage for food at night. While roof rats can live in wooded areas yards and homes provide both food and shelter making them an attractive place to nest. The roof rat has a long tail which is longer than the combined length of the head and body. Gnawing holes roof rats prefer to gnaw on wood but may also damage electrical wiring food packaging and other materials.

Property damage caused by roof rats can add up quickly. The fur of roof rat is smooth while the fur of the norway rat is rough and shaggy. The adult roof rat is about 7 10 inches long and weighs about 5 9 ounces. Once inside roof rats not only damage materials by gnawing through them but they also contaminate stored food and serve as vectors of dangerous diseases.

How to prevent a roof rat infestation. Damaging furniture and storage boxes. If you pull the tail back over the body it will reach over its head. The warm weather and lush plant life attract the rodents to these regions.

To prevent rats from entering your home seal up any holes or cracks larger than a quarter. To make an ideal home roof rats need food water and a cozy nesting site so clean out wood piles rake up fallen vegetation and fruit and do not leave pet food or water outside especially overnight. Diseases roof rats spread diseases like salmonellosis through pantry foods contaminated with their droppings. Roof rats can be cautious.

Roof rats will also chew through plastic and metal pipes to get water which can lead to serious structural damage. Roof rats are a health hazard being one of the oldest transmitters of diseases.