Rodents are a growing problem throughout Arizona, as rats are causing damage to homes and buildings all over the state. In particular, roof rats are plaguing Phoenix homeowners and troubling communities within Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, Biltmore, Tempe, and Fountain Hills. Pack rats can be found from the most northern to the farthest southern points of Arizona’s borders. The high mountain areas of Flagstaff, Prescott, and Sedona also have a large presence of Arizona’s native pack rat. Throughout the communities that surround Phoenix, pack rats can be found both in the desert areas, as well as encroaching upon properties. All over Tucson and to points east and west, the Arizona pack rat can be found building nests, posing a threat to homes and properties. But, with special attention to the behavior patterns of these rodents and their ecological needs, it is possible to rid your Arizona home and property of pack rats and roof rats permanently.

Where To Begin:

First, it is important to identify the particular type of rodent problem you are having, although Pack rats and roof rats pose similar destructive problems to an Arizona resident or building owner. Each of these rodents has a slightly distinct body shape and size. The feces left behind from each rodent is also somewhat distinct, with the pack rat’s dropping being larger and more round than the roof rat’s thinner more cylindrical waste product. Both rats have unique nesting behaviors that can determine how to treat the infestation in your Arizona home or building.

Next, get out a bright flashlight and a safe, sturdy ladder that will allow access into an attic or crawl space. Look carefully for droppings and dark urine spots, which indicate the presence of rats. Also look for torn insulation, chewed pieces of plastic in a pile, and debris from plants, trees, or seeds. It is very important to take note of chewed or exposed electrical wiring. If your Arizona property has any damage to electrical wiring or systems, it is crucial to call a licensed electrician to evaluate the electrical damage and prevent a fire occurring and licensed wildlife and pest control expert immediately to help stop the problem from becoming worse.

Look around the property for rodent droppings, chewed patio furniture, and possible damage to pool or spa equipment. Inspect air conditioning equipment for signs of pack rat nests or other rodent debris. Open utility doors and look for dark urine spots, feces, and other chewed areas to drywall, wood, or wiring. It is very important to assess all damage rodents may be causing to your home or property. Locating the areas in your Arizona home or property being affected by rodents will help determine where and how many traps to use to remove the roof rats and pack rats permanently.

Time To Trap:

After discovering roof rats or pack rats in you Arizona property, it is time to get the traps out. Special care should be taken not to step through a ceiling or to damage roofing materials when traps are set. Damage to your home by a spouse, other relative, friend, or neighbor is not usually covered by a liability insurance policy, which all qualified Arizona wildlife and pest control experts should carry. Having found where the rodents are hiding, use a small amount of peanut butter or birdseed on a trap to attract the rats. Use only new, well-conditioned traps that have a highly spring-loaded mechanism. Set the trap in an easy to retrieve location and check it often so that a dead rodent will not rot and breed fly larva in your attic or home.

After catching a rodent in your Arizona property, carefully dispose of the dead rat into a yard trash container so the decaying smell will not remain in your home or building. Be sure to wash your hands immediately after handling a dead rodent. Both live and dead rodents carry many diseases and harmful bacteria, which can cause illness. If you hear a trap sprung and a squeak of a roof rat or a pack rat, your efforts may have immediately paid off. Quickly retrieve the trap and dispose of the rodent in an outside bin. Sometimes the trapped rat may still be alive and only injured while trapped. In this case, it is important that the rodent be killed in a humane way and not left in the trap to suffer.

Trapping should be an ongoing process to rid your Arizona home or property of roof rats or pack rats. Check the traps often and make sure the bait used is fresh and the traps are loaded correctly. If the trap is not set correctly, the rodent can easily remove the bait without the trap being set off. When checking on your traps, if the bait is removed and the spring has not yet been triggered, it is possible that an improperly set trap has just offered a free meal to a destructive rodent in your Arizona home.

Need Help:

Don’t hesitate to call upon a qualified wildlife and pest control expert such as the highly regarded professionals at Rodent Proof LLC™ whenever you have questions or concerns about rodents in Arizona.