Roof rats are a growing problem in Phoenix and the takeover only gets worse as temperatures dip because they’re looking for somewhere warm to nest. Those warm places are often located on the roofs and upper levels of residential homes. Phoenix residents may likely be seeing signs of these unwelcome visitors in their home.

It wouldn’t be so bad if they kept to themselves, but roof rats are nocturnal creatures and make noise at night chewing through your wood, insulation and wiring, leaving you with a hefty repair bill when they move out. They can also cause health problems because their waste can spread allergens and disease.

So, it’s easy to understand why you want them gone for good and are asking, how do I get rid of roof rats? We have some tips to prepare against these rodents and to help to rid your home of roof rats.

Eliminate food and water sources

Roof rats love homes that give them easy access to their favorite foods and drinks, so make your home less appealing by taking away their free meals.

• Clean out fruit-bearing trees
  • Their favorite foods are citrus-based fruits (like oranges, lemons and limes) because they’re both a food and water source. Other fruits (like figs and pomegranates), vegetables, nuts, seeds and stored grains are also enticing to roof rats. Thoroughly pick your trees and clear any remaining remnants from the ground, your yard and garage before the cool weather hits.
• Secure food
  • Keep bird seed, nuts and pet food in sealed containers and indoor. Keep barbecues clean as food debris and grease are excellent food sources.
• Minimize available water
  • Rats can grab water from anywhere around your home, even places you wouldn’t consider, like leaky faucets, sprinkler heads and air conditioner condensation drip lines. Fix these if they’re leaking or faulty. Also consider emptying bird baths, fountains, ornamental ponds and outdoor pet watering dishes.

Eliminate structural entry points

Rodents cause the most damage inside your home and garage, so the first goal should be to keep them from getting indoors.

1. Fill any holes or gaps
   • Rats can and will make entry points for themselves if there’s reason enough to work at it. For best results seal up gaps in your home with steel wool, diamond mesh wiring, or other metallic materials. Some openings in your home need to remain open, such as attic and plumbing vents. Use a wire mesh screen to keep rodents out of these areas. You should never screen off a dryer exhaust vent as these can quickly become a fire hazard.
2. Plug and caulk cracks
   • Rats and mice have skeletons of cartilage and can squeeze through gaps and cracks you wouldn’t expect. Pay attention to gaps around utility lines enter the home, such as water heater, plumbing and AC coolant lines, as well as gaps around doors, and dog doors. It’s also a good idea to put wool or copper mesh inside the air conditioning line that leads into your home’s attic.
3. Keep trees and bushes properly groomed
   • Rodents use trees, bushes, power lines, and other items to help get on and into your home. Where you can, trim back trees and bushes away from structures and about 4 inches off the ground. Other physical items that don’t need to touch the house, such as unused ladders and dog houses should be kept away as well.
4. Don’t forget your other structures
   • Detached garages, sheds, dog houses, barbecues, and other structures should not be neglected. These areas are often overlooked because there’s not as much human traffic, which only makes them a better nesting place for rodents.

Common entry points for rodents and rats

Go on the offensive

Even the most diligent homeowner will have an occasional rodent make their way inside. If that happens, you need to react quickly so they don’t have a chance to get comfortable.

• Physical controls
  • Snap traps and glue boards can be effective tools when used properly. Place them along the wall near entry points and other areas where you find evidence of activity. Peanut butter and granola bars work well as bait for these traps. Be sure to place snap action traps in areas kids and pets won’t accidentally trigger them.
• Use approved baits
  • Rodenticides can be effective tools for eliminating almost any infestation. Feeding stations with rodenticides can be placed near food and water sources, in attics, near the rodent nest, and some are even designed to be placed in trees. Be sure to strictly follow the labels of any products you use and keep any baits safely away from kids and non-target animals. Never use more than is recommended as some baits can create a hazard for wildlife that normally feed on rodents, such as cats, coyotes, and birds of prey.
• Stick to proven methods
  • We also suggest avoiding ultrasonic or electromagnetic devices marketed to drive rodents away; We’ve found them to be completely ineffective. Baiting them with Coca-Cola — passed around as an “all-natural” alternative to rodenticide — doesn’t work either because roof rats actually enjoy drinking it, according to a study conducted by the Maricopa County Vector Control.

Experts can help fix your roof rat problem

Dealing with rodents can be a big job, and many factors not discussed here can impact your treatment results. Things like the rodent social hierarchy, bait tolerance, and neophobia can all make eliminating rodents difficult. If you’re not sure you can keep roof rats from invading your home, then your best option is to call in the professionals at Blue Sky Pest Control. Our team will access your home and the problem, then recommend the best plan of attack to keep rats out of your home — and out of your life.

How do I eliminate roof rats from my home? – Phoenix, Arizona

Question: I live in Tempe, Arizona and my neighborhood has roof rats. My grandson recently saw a rat on a tree near my block wall. Do you think it is a roof rat and what should I do?

Answer: We appreciate the question. First off, parts of Tempe have significant roof rat populations. Unfortunately, roof rat control is a growing challenge for many cities and neighborhoods throughout the Valley. We cannot say for certain if what your grandson saw was a roof rat without seeing it ourselves. As far as what to do to prevent roof rats, there are several things one can do around their home to reduce how likable their home is to roof rats.

Before we share the tips, let’s share a few quick pieces of information about roof rats. They spend 90%+ of their time off the ground. If they have sufficient food and water sources off the ground that percentage can be higher. They generally live in trees and vegetation. They can eat fruits, nuts, vegetables, bird seed, dog and cat food and food debris of any kind. Dr. Bobby Corrigan, one of the leading experts on rodent control in the U.S., says that when approaching a rodent challenge, one should begin by asking 2 questions:

1. What and where is the food for this rodent infestation?
2. How are the rodents causing the infestation getting into the building?

Let’s work with his question #1 first.

Identifying and eliminating the food source(s).

When inspecting a home we want to eliminate access to any food source. Some quick examples:

• Citrus trees – If you have a citrus trees in your yard, you will need to be mindful to pick the fruit when ripe and pick-up any fruit that falls to the ground regularly.
• Gardens – Need to be properly maintained. If the garden is feeding the roof rats you may want to consider suspending the garden for a season until they have been controlled.
• Dog food and cat food – Move the dog food and cat food inside.
• Garbage cans – Are the lids broken on your garbage cans? If so, replace them.
• Seed or other food sources around the home or in the garage – Remove any accessible food source.

The food source may not be in your yard. Roof rats will travel and the close proximity to food sources that you cannot control can be a challenge for control at your home.
Now for question #2.

How are the rodents causing the infestation getting into the building?

Are they getting access to your roof because of overhanging trees onto your roof or home or bushes and vegetation touching your home?

• Cut back any trees so they do not overhand the roofline or touch the home. We recommend cutting them back at least 3 feet away from the home. This makes it more difficult for them to have access to your roof.
• Cut back any vegetation touching the home.

Once we have made it harder for them to access the home, we can now look for cracks and crevices that can be sealed to prevent them from getting into the home.

Once we have addressed these first two questions we can now tackle eliminating the roof rat infestation that may still exist. Professional products and techniques may be required to eliminate the infestation. If you have any questions on identifying roof rats or removing them from your home please let us know.

To rid your home of roof rats, contact Blue Sky Pest Control.

The childhood classic Charlotte’s Web likely took place somewhere in the Midwest, and it provides some entertaining “insights” into the “psyche” of rats, although not likely any of the rodents in Arizona. In the story, Wilbur the pig questions Templeton, the resident rat, about his name. The rat responds:

Did you say ‘just the rat’? For your information, pig: The rat rules! We were here long before your kind and we’ll be here long after. So, you just keep that in mind next time you feel like reducing me to just ‘the rat’.

Although Templeton’s exact rat heritage remains untold, he was right when he said rats are here to stay, which is why it’s so important to identify the type of rodent you’re dealing with in your home.

Rats and Mice: Differentiating Rodents in Arizona

Many people tend to get rats and mice mixed up. There are several ways to distinguish rats from mice, although no one method is foolproof.

In general, adult rats are bigger then mice. However, an immature rat may be difficult to distinguish from a mouse. Adult rats often weigh close to 12 ounces, whereas an adult mouse weighs about .5 ounce. Generally, rats are about twice as long as most mice.

Some other determining factors between rats and mice are:

• The tail of a mouse is usually much thinner than that of a rat.
• The eyes of a mouse are proportionately larger than those of a rat.
• Rats leave bigger droppings than mice (think baked bean vs. rice grain).
• Rats need a fair amount of water, and often appear in damp and watery areas. Mice need little moisture.

European Stowaways

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, several species of rodents stowed away on ships coming from Europe to North America. One was the Norway rat, sometimes called a sewer rat. Another was the common house mouse. All are found pretty much anywhere where people live throughout the country, including Arizona.

In recent years, the roof rats took up residence in certain areas of the state as well. All possess the potential to contaminate food stores, damage wiring, and leave germs within a house.

Arizona and Its Rodents

There are plenty of other types of rats in Arizona. However, some, while referred to as rats, are not true rats.

The pack rat, sometimes called the wood rat or trading rat, lives throughout Arizona. According to Arizona’s Yavapai County Cooperative Extension, pack rats are about as big as Norway rats, but have hairy tails (Norway rats have rather bare tails). They build a specific type of nest that looks like a messy bunch of twigs, leaves, and such, which often appear at the bases of cacti and trees, or in disused structures.

The cotton rat has brownish-black fur and a short body, and is generally smaller than a roof rat. Their hairless tails are shorter than roof rats’ tails. These creatures prefer grassy areas, hedges, and marshy areas. Cotton rats are most known for damaging alfalfa, grain, vegetable, peanut, and fruit crops, according to the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management.

Even jaded rodent haters find kangaroo rats rather cute. With its oversize eyes, long tail and outsize hind feet, Kangaroo rats are perfectly suited for desert living. They require little liquid intake, and subsist mostly on seeds, although they sometimes sample vegetation and insects. Kangaroo rats have pouches set near their cheeks that are used for carrying extra seeds, not their babies. Keep in mind that some species of kangaroo rats (there are actually 23 different kangaroo rat species in North America) are endangered and thus protected by law.

Getting Rid of Rodents

The most common ways of dealing with a rat or mouse infestation is trapping and/or poisoning. Knowing the animal helps determine the right approach for dealing with them. Humane traps are an option, although not a popular or practical one for dealing with rats and mice.

For light infestations, a DIY approach may work. However, it is best to leave it to the professionals when dealing with mice and rats, especially when it comes to heavy infestations. Using a professional pest control company not only increases the chances of quick eradiation, but it also relieves homeowners of the “ick” factor associated with trapping and removing pests.

For Rattus rattus, the scientific name for what we call roof rats, Arizona is now home. Also known as the black rat, this rodent poses a plague of hazards, including the plague. According to the University of Arizona, aside from disease transmission, roof rats eat and contaminate food, chew on household wiring, and tear up home insulation. Outside the home, they eat plants, tree bark and fruits.

Phoenix, Arizona – Ground Zero

First appearing in Phoenix in 2001, roof rats are relatively new to Arizona. They’re also not even native to North America, as they traveled on ships from Europe hundreds of years ago. In recent years, they again likely hitched a ride, arriving in Arizona by way of freight shipments.

They adjusted well to the southwestern climate, which seems near perfect for roof rats. Phoenix, with its irrigation canals, and palm and citrus trees, has made a great home for these pesky rodents.

Mesa, Arizona Deals with a New Pest

Rat sighting reports tend to worry people — and with good reason. These rodents show up on power lines, in trees and bushes, and even on porches and patios. From Glendale to Mesa, and Chandler to Scottsdale, Arizona, roof rats have people concerned about not only property damage, but also health risks.

Fortunately, according to Maricopa County Vector Control, periodic testing results have thus far been negative for tularemia, Hantavirus, and plague in area roof rats. In case of any health risks, though, Chandler, Arizona, as well as Mesa and other surrounding municipalities, refer residents to the county vector control office for help and guidance.

Properly identifying a rat

In some respects, a rat is a rat, period. Correct identification of the rodent in your home increases the chances of eradicating this pest.

Few truly want to spend a lot of time closely observing a rat’s physical characteristics and behavior, so it pays to know what to look for in identifying a rodent. According to the University of Arizona, physical characteristics of rats include:

• A combined head and body length of seven to eight inches.
• A tail longer than the length of their head and body, usually about eight to 10 inches long.
• The tail is scaly and hairless.
• Large, almost hairless ears.
• Usually blackish body fur, with a lighter belly.
• Pointy nose.

Signs and Signals of Roof Rat Infestation

These rodents like heights. Rats are great climbers, so they easily access treetops as well as roofs. Their nests generally appear in rafters, soffits, and other high locations, although in warmer locales, they sometimes create ground burrows.

According to the University of Arizona, some of the signs of root rats are:

• Smudge marks around higher areas of a structure, caused by the dirt and oil of their fur
• Scurrying sounds in the attic at night (roof rats are nocturnal creatures)
• Nervous or excited pets
• Discovery of a sizable food stash

Another telltale sign of a roof rat is hollowed out citrus fruits, where the rats leave nothing but the rind and/or skin.

Steps for Preventing Roof Rat Infestation

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and in the case of roof rats, it is especially true. Here are some steps you can take to proactively keep rats away from your home:

• Deprive rats of any food resources, including keeping garbage contained and properly storing food (this includes pet food).
• Eliminate any water sources.
• Keep landscaping trimmed, roof rats like to hide in ground cover.
• Remove vines and overhanging tree branches on which rats might climb.
• Remove ripe fruit from trees promptly.
• Secure pet doors.
• Seal pipe and wire entry holes using copper, wool, mortar, or flashing.
• Cover vents with wire mesh.
• Install sheet metal rat guards at least 18” to 24” in width on trees and walls.

Roof rats are enterprising creatures, so take these extra steps to make it difficult for them to enter your house.

Eradicating Rats

In many cases, controlling rats requires trapping and poisoning. However, few people want to deal with that process. Traps are an option. Poison also works, but is not the best choice for indoor use, as the rat may die and stink up your home as it decomposes.

For many, the best option is hiring a professional to come in, assess the situation, place the proper bait and traps, and, thankfully, dispose of the results.