When you have roof rats, you need to know what they eat and how to keep them from harming your property. Roof rats can chew through electrical wires, exposing them and causing a house fire. They can also chew through water pipes, and build nests and breeding areas in attics. Sometimes, they extend their burrow systems to the ground, causing structural damage to your home. If you find evidence of roof rats on your property, you need to get rid of them as quickly as possible.
Home
In the winter, outside critters are attracted to our homes in search of shelter. While these animals are generally not considered dangerous, their presence is cause for concern. Roof rats can carry diseases such as plague and typhus. These rats also cause serious health problems because they contaminate food and water. You can contract these diseases through a bite from a rat or by consuming contaminated food. Some diseases can even be transmitted through inhaling contaminated rat feces.
The main problem caused by roof rats is their propensity to breed rapidly and to cause significant damage to buildings. Their chewing habits can lead to tearing down insulation, dislodging insulation, and contaminating food stored in the kitchen. Rats can also transmit illnesses to humans through their feces and saliva. If you do not have the right tools and supplies to deal with these pests, you may end up with a rat infestation.
Attic
Depending on the species, rodents in the attic can cause a large number of damages. These rodents are omnivorous, meaning that they can eat everything from electrical wires to insulation. They can even cause fires in the attic because they chew wires around insulators. Roof rats are one of the most common types of rodents that infest attics. They are sleek, black, or brown and can enter an attic through the roof and start nesting in the shrubs.
Once inside your attic, rats leave behind a lot of waste. Rats chew insulation, wood, and electrical wires, exposing them to fire. In addition, rats also leave behind a foul odor. Moreover, the waste accumulated by rats can attract other pests and cause a health risk. Moreover, roof rats leave behind a trail of fecal pellets, which can cause serious damage to your home.
Gutters
Aside from the obvious damage caused by roof rats and other rodents, these animals can also create a lot of noise. Moreover, they breed fast and can have a litter in just 13 days. This can put undue stress on the drainage system of your home. Over time, these animals will damage the gutters, causing them to sag and pull away from your roof. To avoid this, you can install gutter guards or animal-proofing materials.
Among the various risks that roof rats can cause to your home, one of the most important is damage to your gutters. Clogged gutters attract several pests. If not taken care of promptly, these pests can cause serious damage to your home’s foundation and shingles. To prevent this, you should make sure your gutters are free of debris and that the downspouts are long enough to carry water through them.
Attic fans
If you live in an area where roof rats are a common problem, you may be wondering how to tell if your roof is being damaged by these creatures. These omnivores chew wire to keep their teeth clean. When you find chew marks on your home’s wood or wiring, you can be fairly certain that rodents are in the attic. You can also notice damaged electrical wires in your attic. If you find excessive moisture, your roof might be leaking and the rodents are invading your space.
Despite being extremely resilient, roof rats are notoriously destructive. They can chew through insulation and even electrical wires, causing damage to your home’s electrical systems. They can also contaminate your food, spreading diseases and mites. If you’ve already seen a rat or two on your roof, you should take steps to prevent them from escaping in the first place. If you’re unable to do it yourself, you can hire a professional to help you with the process.
Fruit
Roof rats are pests that cause considerable damage to fruit and tree crops. Not only do they eat fruit, they gnaw through plastic and lead pipes, causing significant structural damage. They often go unnoticed until they start eating your dooryard fruit. As they gnaw, they leave hollow cavities in the fruit’s skin. Often, they also gnaw through trash cans and other objects, making them unsanitary and potentially harmful to your family. To protect your crops, you should learn how to effectively deal with roof rats.
A few simple steps can help prevent roof rats from getting to your fruit trees. First, you should separate fruit trees. Make sure their trunks aren’t touching other trees or overhead wires. Also, make sure that the lower branches of trees aren’t touching the ground. Second, you should trim the branches of your fruit trees so that they don’t touch your home or wiring. If you don’t, the rat will take these branches and climb them.
Avocados
If you live in California and are growing fruits, you’ve probably seen roof rats in your backyard. These pests like citrus fruits, such as avocados, and they also gnaw on irrigation tubing. University of California scientists say last year’s wet weather made it easy for the quick-breeding rats to breed. Weeds produced an abundance of seeds that rats enjoy. The rats subsequently found a bounty in the orchards and fields of the Valley.
While many fruits and vegetables are vulnerable to roof rats, these pests are omnivorous. They prefer native and cultivated fruit, as well as garbage and pet food. They also destroy irrigation lines and make crops unmarketable. Although they don’t burrow, roof rats chew through pipes and can contaminate more than they eat. They can travel 150 yards in order to reach food. Avocados are particularly susceptible to roof rat damage, so if you notice any of these pests on your property, take steps to prevent them from returning.
Pomegranates
Roof rats have been a major pest problem for many years, but the tree itself has a number of beneficial properties. The fruits of the pomegranate tree have antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, researchers studied the effect of pomegranate extract on the rat kidney. This research suggests that pomegranate extract is a powerful antimicrobial agent.
The chemical composition of pomegranates varies from region to region, and may vary based on how the fruit is grown. Some rats prefer citrus fruits, while others prefer pomegranate rind. The juice and pulp of pomegranates is rich in Vitamin C, which rats need to survive, but do not get from the rind. In addition to pomegranates, rat infestations can affect citrus, pistachio, and irrigation tubing.
Nut crops
Roof rats are one of the most common pests in tree fruit and nut orchards. Not only do they damage trees and the branches, they also chew on irrigation lines and microsprinklers. And because they pose such a threat to food safety, effective methods are needed to control the pest. This article explores the different strategies to control roof rats in tree fruit and nut orchards.
One method is to use bait stations on the roof of the buildings to attract the rats. This method is effective because the roof rats visit these baited tunnels to find nuts. Using bait stations is one way to control this pest, but you should be aware of the risks of other pests eating the bait. Using diphacinone to control roof rats has shown to be effective. However, growers should pay attention to the application instructions to avoid unintended pesticide use.
Trees
Roof rats, sometimes known as black rats, have been blamed for destroying fruit crops. They cause damage to irrigation lines, chew on wires, and destroy fruit crops. They may not have an immediate impact on a home, but can cause a large amount of damage to trees in the yard. They often go unnoticed until fruit starts to ripen in the dooryard. Upon closer inspection, it’s easy to see how a rat is making a living by eating fruit.
Roof rats cause significant damage to many types of fruit trees. They typically gnaw on the fruit in its rind or excavate the endocarp of citrus fruit. They are a major nuisance, and control strategies are typically focused on commercial orchards. They can also cause extensive damage to trees in residence. In addition to their destructive behavior, roof rats can cause significant damages to the fruit of a single tree.
Nests
Aside from the obvious structural damage that roof rats can do to your home, they can also carry parasites and diseases. These critters can gnaw through wood, electrical wires, and plastics, and can even cause problems in your plumbing, electrical, and even your roof’s insulation. In addition to these problems, roof rats can spread illnesses and cause fires by chewing on electrical wiring.
To stop rat infestation, preventive measures are necessary. The first step in preventing roof rats’ nests is to eliminate the habitat they love most – dense shrubbery and vine-covered trees, fences, and ground cover. Also, be sure to repair any leaks in your gutters and pipes. In addition to that, roof rats will eat your shingles and even your roofing materials. If you’ve tried everything and still have a nest, contact Critter Control today.