Roof Rats

What do roof rats look like?

Roof rats are slender and sleek rodents that range from 6 to 8 inches, not including the tail. Their tail adds another full body length—and then some. They need this long tail for balancing in high places, which is where roof rats like to live. They have large ears and eyes, which help them navigate in the darkness, making them perfectly suited for nocturnal activity. This species of rat has dark brown-to-black coloration, which gives it some protection from predators during nighttime exploration.

What do roof rats eat?

Roof rats are opportunistic feeders, eating food derived from plants and animals. Given the choice, what would it eat?

Preferred foods: Roof rats prefer to live on a diet of fruits, nuts, seeds, and berries. They’re often found raiding fruit trees, entering gardens, and accessing bird feeders.

Secondary foods: In nature, roof rats feed on tree bark, insects, and small animals when their preferred foods are scarce.

Human-associated foods: Roof rats will get into trash receptacles and eat discarded human foods, feed on pet food in dishes, and invade food storage inside homes.

In pantries, kitchens, storage rooms, and attics, roof rats chew through cardboard to get to foods contained inside. They have strong teeth and claws that make quick work of most packaging.

How do roof rats get inside?

Roof rats are excellent climbers that can scale trees or climb the sides of your home. When roof rats get into structures, they usually do so from the roof or roof line. Here are some examples:

• Roof rats may climb trees, run down branches to get to the roofs of homes and structures, and enter that way.
• Roof rats may scale utility poles, run across a line, get onto a roof, and gnaw through a seal around an exhaust pipe.
• They may climb up a downspout, get onto a roof, and scratch and gnaw into the trough of a roof soffit intersection.
• Roof rats can scale the exterior of homes and enter through unprotected gable vents.

In most cases, these animals will access homes through high entry points.

Where do roof rats nest?

A roof rat prefers to live in an elevated enclosure. Outside, they usually live in tree cavities or dense tree canopy. When they get inside man-made structures, they typically live in attic spaces. Their preference is to live in unfinished attics. They’ll also hide in high nooks or storage spaces inside garages.

Are roof rats dangerous?

Yes, roof rats pose health and safety concerns for humans. Here are a few facts you should know:

• They can transmit diseases when they leave excrement or urine indoors.
• They pick up harmful organisms in trash and other unsanitary places and spread these through contact.
• They pick up ticks, fleas, and other parasites and introduce them to indoor spaces. These secondary pests can transmit many diseases, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, tularemia, typhus, and Lyme disease. 
• They gnaw on structural material and are known to severe wires, which is considered a significant fire hazard.

Rats present health risks and are also destructive pests. They damage building materials and storage items.

How do I know if I have a roof rat problem?

There are many obvious signs of an infestation. Look for them in secluded spaces near and inside your home.

• Droppings: Inspect your exterior wall, roof, and attic for ½ inch, dark-colored fecal matter.
• Grease marks: Check exterior utilities for dark marks around gaps where pipes or conduits enter your home. And inspect interior baseboards, attic rafters, recesses, and gaps for these black marks.
• Nests: Inspect your attic for nests made of shredded paper, fabrics, plant matter, and insulation.
• Live rats: Inspect your attic for rat activity.

If you detect warning signs of an infestation, contact your Marathon Pest Control service team for treatment options.

How do I get rid of roof rats?

If you’ve found evidence of roof rats or other rodents in your home or business, contact Marathon Pest Control for assistance. Our locally owned and operated company provides residential pest control and commercial pest control services that target rodents and other pests.

How can I prevent a rat problem?

Preventing a roof rat infestation isn’t easy. It requires consistent and dedicated effort.

• Seal potential entry points along your roofline and around roof penetrations.
• Apply wire mesh in critical locations to deter gnawing.
• Use fencing material or wire mesh to block access to roof soffit intersections.
• Trim branches away from your exterior.
• Apply rodent guards to deter rats from traversing utility lines or climbing pipes on the sides of your home.
• Remove or protect potential food sources around your exterior.