Roof Rat

What Do Roof Rats Look Like?

These rats are long and sleek rodents that have large eyes and ears, a pointed nose and a scaly, hairless tail. Roof rats have soft and smooth fur that is typically brown with intermixed spots of black. Their undersides are often white, gray or black.

Adult rats measure 6-8” (16-20 cm) when combining their head and body length. Their tails are notably longer than their heads and bodies, measuring 7-10” (19-25 cm). This means that roof rats can measure more than 40 cm long. They usually weigh 5-9 ounces (150-250 g) but can grow up to 12 ounces (340 g).

Signs of an Infestation

There are many key indicators of a rat infestation in the home. First and foremost, seeing an actual rodent, dead or alive, is a telltale sign of a potential rat problem. Another common sign of a roof rat infestation is the presence of droppings around the home. Fresh droppings are soft and moist, whereas old droppings are hard and dried.

The droppings usually measure about ½” (12-13 mm) and have pointed ends. Droppings from Norway rats are larger – measuring about ¾” (18-20 mm) with blunt ends. The discovery of gnaw marks, damaged goods, nests or greasy rub marks also indicates roof rat activity. Other common signs of an infestation are noises in the attic or house walls and damaged electrical wires.

Roof Rats Prevention

To prevent an infestation, seal up any holes or cracks larger than a quarter with silicone caulk and be sure that all windows and vents are screened. Keep trees and shrubs trimmed away from the building and cut back limbs overhanging the roof. These rats are drawn to any accessible food sources, so clean up fruit that may fall from trees in the yard and keep garbage in tightly covered receptacles. Be sure to also store pet food and other dry food in sealed containers. Additionally, eliminate any outdoor sources of water such as leaky sprinkler heads, pet water dishes, and birdbaths.

Roof Rat Education

Habits

Roof rats are primarily nocturnal and thrive in cool weather. They forage for food in small groups of up to ten and tend to return to the same food source time after time, following the same pathway between their nest and food. Though their excellent climbing abilities allow them to easily access the upper parts of structures, they are also highly adaptable and can survive in a variety of environments.

Typically living in colonies, roof rats prefer to nest in the upper parts of buildings, such as attics and rafters. They can also be found under, in and around structures, as well as in piles of wood or debris. Generally preferring sheltered or covered habitats, roof rats are attracted to lush landscapes, dense vegetation, and fruit trees. As a result, properties with heavy shrubbery, woodpiles, and storage boxes are more prone to roof rat infestations.

When looking for indoor shelter, roof rats will enter structures through any access point larger than a nickel. Seeking safety from predators and places to nest, they enter garages, sheds, and homes by following pipes or gnawing through materials such as drywall, aluminum siding, and wood.

Roof rats only live about a year but have the ability to produce as many as 40 new offspring during their lifetime.

Threats

Roof rats can be carriers of the bacteria that causes plague in humans. Though transmission is rare today, there are still a handful of cases in the U.S. each year. Roof rats can also carry fleas and spread diseases such as typhus via fleas, infectious jaundice via urine in water or food, rat-bite fever via bites, trichinosis via undercooked pork and salmonellosis via droppings. Additionally, these rodents can cause food poisoning by contaminating food or food preparation surfaces.

Like many other rodent species, roof rats may show aggression when threatened. In self-defense, they may bite or chase. Diseases including rat-bite fever can be transmitted through a roof rat bite or scratch. Symptoms of rat-bite fever include vomiting, headache, fever, and muscle and joint pain.