How To Get Rid Of Roof Rats On Your Placerville Property

Roof rats are also known as black rats, house rats, and ship rats. They are black but can be grey with a lighter color underside. Roof rats have large ears and long tails. Roof rats get their name because they are great climbers and nest in high places like trees and upper parts of buildings. They are nocturnal and most active at night, but it may be a sign that they have young in their nest if you see them during the day.

Like other rodents, roof rats shouldn't be taken lightly if they are in your home. If you are a Placerville, CA resident, you should know the dangers of roof rats, how you can prevent them, and how the professionals at Hangtown Pest Control can assist.

Dangers Of Roof Rats

Like other home-invading rodents, roof rats pose many dangers to people - these dangers range from health concerns to property damage. You may know roof rats as the culprit of spreading the bubonic plague during the Middle Ages. However, thanks to antibiotics, the bubonic plague is not as deadly as it once was.

Health concerns caused by roof rats:

Roof rats can contaminate food with saliva and waste.
Diseases transmitted by roof rats include plague, salmonellosis, rat-bite fever, typhus, and leptospirosis.
They can spread parasites like fleas, tapeworms, and roundworms.
Roof rats in your home can cause people stress and loss of sleep, which can cause more health concerns.
They can also cause allergic reactions.

Property damage caused by roof rats:

Rodents' teeth are constantly growing, so they need to chew to keep them from overgrowing.
Rodents will chew through wires, pipes, insulation, wood, and other materials.
They make small holes larger to get into your home.
When rodents damage wires, it can become a fire hazard.

No one wants to worry about the diseases transmitted by roof rats or the property damage they can cause. But because roof rats are good climbers, they are a little more difficult to prevent than other rodents and pests. However, there are precautions you can take to try and keep them out.

Roof Rat Prevention

Although challenging, there are things you can do to try and prevent roof rats from getting in. Like other pests, it is essential to keep food stored properly, remove potential water sources, and seal entry points. Implement the following to deter roof rats:

Keep food stored in air-tight containers
Don't leave any pet food out overnight
Take the garbage out frequently
Clean often, sweeping under heavy appliances when possible
Fix any leaking pipes or faucets and remove any standing water
Repair any water-damaged wood around your property
Seal gaps around pipes and utility lines
Place coverings over ventilation points
Use chimney caps
Keep your yard maintained to eliminate harborage areas
Keep woodpiles stored securely
Remove any fallen fruit from your property
Trip back trees, so they aren't touching your home

If these prevention tips just aren't cutting it for your roof rat problem, you should consider professional help.

Professional Roof Rat Control

For more advice and assistance with roof rats on your Placerville property, contact Hangtown Pest Control. Our rodent control experts will get to the heart of the problem by assessing how roof rats are getting in your home and what is attracting them. We will effectively remove and keep these rodents from becoming a problem again through nest removal, traps, and the removal of conducive conditions.

Call us at Hangtown Pest Control today to get started protecting your Placerville, California home against roof rats, other rodents, and pests.