Roof Rat Damage

They also find paths down to kitchens and pantries where they eat and contaminate food.

Roof rat damage.

Inspecting roof rat. 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. Roof rats can cause extensive and costly damage from. In attics the pests tear up insulation to build their nests and chew on the casing of electrical wires and pipes.

You won t always see roof rats because they are nocturnal and forage for food at night. However you need to know the signs of infestation that can alert you to their presence. 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. The adult roof rat is about 7 10 inches long and weighs about 5 9 ounces.

From rat bites and scratches to saliva and urine rats can cause many diseases. Signs of an infestation of roof rats. Gnawing holes roof rats prefer to gnaw on wood but may also damage electrical wiring food packaging and other materials. Chewing on electrical wires.

These bites or scratches can cause what is known as rat bite fever or even tetanus. Roof rats are a health hazard being one of the oldest transmitters of diseases. How serious are roof rats. The roof rat has a long tail which is longer than the combined length of the head and body.

Damaging furniture and storage boxes. Indoors tracks will appear as clean paths. Roof rats damage homes where they live in the southern and western coastal states. The warm weather and lush plant life attract the rodents to these regions.

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. How to prevent a roof rat infestation. The fur of roof rat is smooth while the fur of the norway rat is rough and shaggy.

This is the way roof rats typically spread diseases like plague salmonellosis. Roof rats can be cautious. Roof rats are also referred to as black rats or ship rats. The roof rat gets its name from its tendency to find shelter in the upper parts of buildings.

To prevent rats from entering your home seal up any holes or cracks larger than a quarter. Roof rats will also chew through plastic and metal pipes to get water which can lead to serious structural damage. While roof rats can live in wooded areas yards and homes provide both food and shelter making them an attractive place to nest. These rats can also transmit rat bite fever through bacteria in.

Tracks roof rats will make paths also known as tracks or runways that identify their movements. If you pull the tail back over the body it will reach over its head.