One specific species that can cause significant problems for home and business owners is the roof rat. These rodents are commonly known as black rats, too, and they are one of the most widespread rats in the country and throughout the world. They get their name because they are great climbers, and they can easily make their way onto upper levels of buildings, attics, and roofs.
Roof rats are a dark brown to black color, which sets them apart from other rat species and mice that are both brownish-grey. Roof rats can also be identified by their scaly tails and pointed noses. They are long and thin.
In this guide, you’ll learn just how dangerous roof rats can be once they invade a property, and you’ll also get some simple prevention tips.
The Dangers That Roof Rats Bring
There are many problems that black rats can cause for property owners, starting with the property damage they cause. These rodents will chew through all kinds of materials because they have to do so in order to keep their teeth from growing too long.
This means they can damage electrical wires, plumbing, furniture, clothing, plastic, drywall, and much more. Over time, repairs to fix this gnawing damage can really add up.
But the even bigger worry with roof rats is the health risks they pose, including:
- These rodents can transmit diseases, including rat-bite fever, tularemia, and salmonellosis.
- Roof rats often carry fleas and ticks, and these parasites can also transmit illnesses, such as the Bubonic plague and Lyme disease.
- The build-up of rodent fur, feces, and urine can cause allergies, asthma attacks, and other respiratory issues.
- While rare, rats can bite and scratch if they feel threatened.
Because of these dangers, it is important to prevent rats from moving into your Oklahoma City home.
How Can You Keep Roof Rats Out?
Because roof rats can be dangerous, expensive, and challenging to deal with, taking steps to prevent them is vital. Prevention can help protect your home or business from these rodents, and you can start by following these five measures:
- Place caps over chimneys and wire mesh over vents to keep roof rats from crawling inside.
- Rodents are attracted to buildings with access to food, so clean up food and drink spills right away and keep kitchen areas clean.
- Make sure to place tight-fitting lids on all trash cans and keep your yard free of trash and organic debris.
- If you have pets, keep their food stored inside in a sealed container.
- Seal up holes and cracks in the walls and foundation using wire mesh and steel wool.
These steps can help minimize your risk of an infestation but will do little for an existing population.
How To Remove Roof Rat Infestations
Roof rats can be extremely challenging to eradicate because they reproduce quickly and hide in many small areas around a property. They can even fit through holes the size of a quarter. Because of this, the safest and easiest way to remove them is with assistance from Guaranteed Pest Service of Oklahoma.
Our expert team will get rid of these rodents right away, and we then provide ongoing pest control plans to prevent rodent activity in the future. Give us a call today to request a quote.
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