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Roof Rats: Nighttime Rodents That Cause Damage

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Roof rats are a highly adaptable rodent species. They have black or brown sleek fur and a long hairless tail. Roof rats prefer elevated nesting areas. Damaged materials that comprise a home's exterior can lead to a rat infestation.

Diet Preferences And Behavioral Characteristics

A roof rat is an omnivore. This type of rodent consumes fruits, leafy greens, tree bark, meat, nuts, and grains. Land that contains a lot of vegetation offers a suitable area for roof rats to forage for food and seek refuge from the elements. Roof rats use their teeth to chew through structural materials. A rat can cause damage to roofing materials, siding, vent covers, and electrical wires.

Roof rats tend to hoard their food near the areas where they nest. Rats scurry around at night. A property owner may suspect a roof rat infestation if they take notice of a pile of food scraps or nesting materials. Rat droppings may also indicate that a group of rats has taken up residence within a home. Rats may seek shelter in an attic or within a void behind an interior wall.

Treatments

A rodent control service provider will prepare a custom plan that will involve the removal of roof rats. A treatment plan includes the use of elimination strategies and deterrents. During an inspection of a home, a pest control technician will inspect any evidence that rats are present. They will also assess the structure of a home. Due to the climbing tendency of rats, a pest technician may need to access the rooftop, the attic, and other elevated parts of a home.

During the assessment, a technician may be able to determine how roof rats have gained entry. A torn screen, small holes within the siding, or loose and damaged roofing materials may have granted rats the capability of entering a residence. Rat control products include traps, self-closing cages, sprays, powders, and bait stations. During a service appointment, a technician will outline the efficacy of various rat eradication products.

Some technicians may use a rehoming strategy during the removal process. This type of strategy involves the capture of live rats. Once the roof rats have been secured inside of a cage, they will be released into the wild. If structural damage was discovered during a rodent inspection, a property owner will be supplied with details about the damage that was detected. The addition of new roofing materials, screens, and other structural materials will aid in preventing roof rats from entering a home again.

For more information, contact rodent control services near you.


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