Protecting your Eureka property from any rodent infestation is no easy task. However, when those rodents can also enter your home by coming through holes in the roof or down the chimney, it makes keeping them out even more difficult. Unfortunately, that is exactly the case when you are dealing with roof rats. Not only are roof rats hard to keep out, but they can also cause costly damage to a property if they get inside. Moreover, roof rats can spread a number of harmful bacteria and pathogens. It's important that you know the steps that you can take to keep roof rats out of your home.
How To Tell Roof Rats Apart From Other Rodents
There are two rat species that you are most likely to encounter in your home. These are roof rats and Norway rats. Roof rats are black in color and generally grow to be anywhere from six to eight inches long with tails longer than their bodies. They have pointed noses and slim builds which makes them excellent climbers.
Norway rats, on the other hand, are usually dark brown or gray in color. Larger than roof rats, Norway rats can grow to be eleven inches long with tail tails shorter than their bodies. Norway rats have heavier bodies than roof rats as well as more blunted noses. Other rodents that might invade your home include mice which are much smaller than roof rats, growing to be only a few inches long.
Dangers Roof Rats Pose To A Property
There are a number of threats that roof rats pose to both us humans and our properties. For starters, roof rats carry a variety of harmful diseases, bacteria, and pathogens which they can spread to the various surfaces of a home or business through their feces, urine, and saliva. Some diseases roof rats have been known to spread include leptospirosis, salmonellosis, hantavirus, plague, and rat-bite fever.
Additionally, roof rats can cause damage to the insides of homes. This is due to the fact that roof rats, like all rodents, have teeth that grow throughout their lives. In an effort to keep their teeth from overgrowing, they will chew on a variety of objects. In doing so, roof rats can damage pipes, drywall, wires, furniture, clothing, and structural beams. If left unchecked, this can lead to costly repairs.
Roof Rat Prevention Tips
Because roof rats are such good climbers, they are more difficult to keep out than other rodents. However, there are steps you should take to help protect your property from these pests. These include:
- Storing food in airtight containers or the fridge
- Cleaning up any crumbs or spills from countertops or floors
- Storing trash in bins with tight-fitting lids, and take out the trash regularly
- Fixing any leaky pipes or faucets in your home
- Filling In any holes around the exterior of your home including under eaves and on the roof
- Installing chimney caps to keep roof rats out
- Trimming any branches away from the exterior of your home
What To Do If Roof Rats Invade Your Property
If you have any more questions about roof rat prevention, or if you need assistance in dealing with a roof rat infestation, contact the certified pest professionals here at Accurate Termite & Pest Solutions. We offer both residential and commercial pest control services to effectively address any rodent infestation faced by Eureka property owners. Additionally, all of our services come with a pest-free guarantee to ensure your property stays rodent-free. If roof rats have you worried, contact Accurate Termite & Pest Solutions today to keep you healthy and safe!