Name: Roof Rat

Scientific Name: Rattus Rattus

Description of Roof Rats: Roof Rats are very common pests that pose numerous health risks and can cause a tremendous amount of damage to your home or business.  Rattus rattus is actually part to blame for the spread of the plague or black death during the Middle Ages. The roof rat (a.k.a. black rat) is usually dark brown in color but can vary depending upon the age of the rodent.  An average Roof Rat is about 13 to 18 inches long, including its tail.  Tail length is often a key factor in determining what type of rats you may have.  Roof Rats have tails so long they are often longer than the body of the rat.  They have larger ears and are very cryptic creatures.  They are hard to catch, and remediate and reproduce rapidly.

Signs to look for in determining if you have Roof Rats include: nighttime activity in your attic, roof and gutters, rustling in trees at night, hollowed out fruit (Orange Trees), sounds of gnawing or chewing at night, cylindrical poop, squealing, pieces of insulation found in house or garage, and much more.

Roof Rats Range and Reproduction: The range of the Roof Rat is impressive.  They originated in Asia, migrated to Europe, and then came across to America due to immigration.  It is said they came across on ships and in cargo and crates.  They are mostly confined to warmer regions and are rampant in the Southwestern United States.

Roof Rats can have anywhere from 6-10 young per litter.  Further, they can have approximately in 4 litters per year if the right conditions exist.  Life expectancy of their young is usually high, especially in the absence of predators.

Health Information: Rats can cause and are associated with diseases too numerous to name.  Humans can contract diseases from rats, rat feces, animals and bacteria that live on rats and in rat feces, and animals that are attracted to rats such as fleas.  The list goes on.  Some of the major, life-threatening diseases include: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), Rat-bite fever (RBF), Murine Typhus, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Leptospirosis, and Eosinophilic Meningitis.

For Detailed Information, please call us or visit the Center for Disease Control.

Important Facts on Roof Rats:

•    They are nocturnal.  Roof Rats sleep during the day and are active at night.
•    Roof rats can transmit very dangerous diseases.
•    They can chew wiring, plumbing, and chew up insulation.
•    Roof Rats can enter your home through small openings and can climb in through roof penetrations and vents.
•    Rats mostly like to take refuge in your attic, but will nest in brush, cacti, shrubs, trees, garbage, and other places.
•    They are amazing jumpers and climbers, and can get access almost anywhere.

Links: Health Information on Roof Rats from the Center for Disease Control.