Roof Rat

Roof rat: Identification, Facts & Control
The Roof Rat is commonly known as the black rat, and ship rat. This rat has a long history as a carrier of plague as well as carrying a strain of the hanta virus in Anaheim, Orange County, Ca. This rodent is sleek, graceful and very robust.
If you think you have a rodent control problem the following steps and knowledge is necessary to solve that rat control problem. An experienced exterminator will quickly pick up on these points.

How to identifying the Roof Rat.
The average Roof rat’s length is about 8 to 10 inches long and less than 1 lb. in weight Tail length is longer than its body and head combined, the tail is scaly and has little hair this rat’s hair is coarse, shaggy fur that ranges from a brownish color to black in color, its belly is a lighter colored
Its nose is pointed, its ears are large and close set and will cover the eyes if pulled down its eyes are small
The roof rat is smaller and lighter than the Norway rat.

Droppings- Roof Rat droppings are their droppings are long and cylindrical. 1/4 to 1/2 inch in length, they are usually a shiny black. This Rats droppings are three times as large as mouse droppings.

How to identify its activity
Roof rats nest outside above ground in trees, bushes, any dense vegetation, woodpiles and debris. Insides roof rates prefer to nest in the upper levels of buildings as well as attics and ceilings.

Roof Rat Facts
The roof rat instincts are based on its world of smells, sounds and the things it touches just like the Norway rat. Just like the Norway rat you must know and understand that this rat is almost blind; its other senses have become sharp, to the point that they can be called acute. Because of this it makes them difficult to control like the Norway rat but this guy runs circles around its cousin buy being able to move over telephone and electrical wire running between buildings. It can do this because it is lighter, more agile and because of its longer tail, which it uses for balance. Which makes them even a more serious menace to your home or business. These rats explore an area of about 300 feet, in all directs around its nesting site. It will memorize everything within that area, like pathways, food sources, water source, places where they can take shelter. If something new is introduced into their area they tent to avoid it until they feel comfortable with it.
These rats invade usually from above looking for shelter.
Rats in general are unusual in that they can carry multiple bacterial type diseases in their blood at the same time without affecting their own being. All of these diseases can be transmits to humans and pets buy their dropping, urine, saliva and bits. They can also introduce disease-carrying parasites such as fleas, lice, mites and ticks into your home or business
ROOF Rats Reproduction and Care of the Young
Female Roof produce from 6 to 12 litters per year with 6 to 12 pups per litter!
How to control these rats?
Rat Exclusion
Rat proofing your building whenever possible is the critical first step in rat control. You control rats by making it impossible for them to gain entry to your home. Rats can squeeze through ½ inch openings or the size of a nickel. Any and all of these possible rat access points must be inspected.
Rat Access Points

◊ Repair all holes and cracks in foundation, walls, and subareas.
◊ Doors need door sweeps and windows with fine-mesh, well-maintained screens.
◊ Chimneys should be capped.
◊ Seals around all exterior lines leading through walls must be tight.
◊ Cover vents with metal grill-work and rust-resistant screening.

Rat Trapping
Rats should be trapped on the inside of the building. This process may take several weeks to clear the building. Poison used on the inside is not a good idea. It will cause the rats to die in the building causing a very bad smell for months and if they die inside walls, holes will have to be made to get the dead rodent out.

Rat Baiting
This process is used on the outside of the building to reduce the overall population of rats exploring the structure.
You see if the outside rat population remains high you will have rats exploring your building every night. They check for any smell that may be coming from the building and if they can’t find a way to that smell they may try to create a way in by chewing through wood or stucco.

A rat baiting program is used by businesses as a proactive element to their pest control services and is a requirement by all county departments of health services for any food handling warehouse or other food handling establishment.
For a free rat checkup call Wheelers Pest Control
877-595-2847