Roof Rat

Overview

Rodents have always been a problem in human-occupied spaces. Issues with rats are more prevalent in older buildings or structures with poor sanitation, but rodents can also infest any building with the appropriate conditions. Rats are accustomed to the climate of most of the United States. They reproduce quickly, are resourceful scavengers, and protect themselves when attacked. Rodents will burrow or travel long distances to obtain food and find shelter. Roof rats are fearless climbers as well, being able to survive a fall of up to fifty feet. They will travel across power lines, roofs, and tree branches, all in an attempt to find food or escape from predators.

Problems With Roof Rats

Roof rats can be huge sources of disease and bacteria. Rodents have spread fleas infected with the deadly illness throughout Europe, otherwise known as the Bubonic Plague. Those simple rats eventually caused millions of deaths. Because they prefer to live near and around humans, rodents are especially troublesome disease carriers.

Rodents are also responsible for a range of building damages, including contamination of attics, wire and wood damage, and food destruction. Urine and droppings are frequent concerns for anyone with a roof rat infestation. Rodents have been known to destroy gardens, raid pantries, and generally cause destructive chaos within a human-dwelling.

Preventing and Controlling Roof Rats

Preventing rodents can be difficult and complex; rodents are intelligent and very resourceful creatures. Complete rodent control should consist of four steps: inspection, exclusion, trapping, and exterior Baiting. The pest control professionals at Johnson Pest Control can evaluate a building for rodent infestation and inspect all current access points. After inspection, all access points will be blocked. A pest control expert will then use trapping to remove the remaining rodents, and also use long-term exterior baits to prevent roof rats from returning to the building.