Roof Rat Identification & Prevention

Are roof rats dangerous?

Like all rats, roof rats can be dangerous for a variety of reasons. The first of these reasons is, of course, the diseases rats carry. Serious illnesses you can catch from rats include: 

• Hantavirus
• Leptospirosis
• Rat-bite fever
• Tularemia 
• Salmonellosis

Aside from the diseases they spread, roof rats are also highly destructive to your property. Like all rodents, they have to file their constantly growing teeth down to the appropriate length. They do this by chewing on a variety of items, including things that can do serious damage to your home, like plumbing and live electrical wires. 

Why do I have a roof rat problem?

Invasive rat species such as roof rats are typically motivated to get into homes in Southern California because they are not capable of surviving our arid, harsh environment on their own. They need human habitation for water, food, and climate-controlled shelter. This is one of the most common reasons Anaheim residents develop a rat problem. If you are not making your home difficult to get into and even more difficult to steal food or moisture from, rats will be attracted to it.

Where will I find roof rats?

Roof rats earned their name because they are excellent climbers. This means it is not unusual to find them running across your roof or living in your attic. In fact, they might just use tree branches near your house to enter your home through its attic.

On the other hand, roof rats can also be found in other places. As rats, they prefer to avoid contact with humans. So you may also find them in other out-of-the-way locales like garages, sheds, and other places with low foot traffic. 

How do I get rid of roof rats?

Unfortunately, roof rat control is not all that easy once you get a roof rat infestation. This isn't just because roof rats breed quickly, but it's also because they are better equipped to break into your home than other rodents because of their climbing talents. This can make it difficult to exclude them since you have to do work near your roof and attic.

That's where we come in. Here at A-1 Bonded Termite, we know how to find where roof rats are entering your home, exclude them, and deal with any existing populations that may already be inside your home. If you get an infestation, you don't have to worry about a thing. Just call us as soon as you see the first signs of roof rats.

How can I prevent roof rats in the future?

Roof rat prevention can be easier for home and business owners to accomplish on their own than roof rat elimination. As with most pests, it's always easier to take measures to prevent an infestation than eliminate one. To protect yourself: 

• Store all pantry foods in airtight, hard plastic containers.
• Keep both indoor and outdoor garbage cans tightly covered.
• Use metal rodent mesh to cover entryways like ventilation holes and exposed pipes. 
• Eliminate all water sources that you can.

These measures can help make your home less attractive to roof rats. But if you wind up with an infestation anyway, remember the rodent control experts here at A-1 Bonded Termite are just a click or call away.