How to Get Rid of Roof Rats: DIY Pest Control

As a homeowner, it’s in your best interests to get rid of roof rats. You can call pest control, but you’ll risk exposing yourself and your family to toxic pest control agents.

There’s a better way! With a DIY approach to roof rats, you’ll be taking your pest control into your own hands.

Practice these easy-to-implement tips and say goodbye to roof rats for good!

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Why You Need to Get Rid of Roof Rats

When there’s a rodent infestation anywhere in the home, it can spell disaster for the home’s structural integrity and the health of the home’s inhabitants. Roof rats can chip away at wood, gravel, and even concrete, resulting in odd cracks in critical areas. Additionally, roof rats and other rodents have been known to carry potentially life-threatening illnesses like Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and leptospirosis.

Roof rats are some of the most common pests invading homes in Arizona. Based on recent statistics, roof rats have been invading homes in the state since the early 2000s. Thousands of homes in the state and the country have reported dealing with roof rats at least once.

Getting rid of roof rats is a must for these reasons:

Roof Rats Destroy Homes

Roof rats dig and burrow into anything in the home that has holes or cracks. This can cause pipes to leak, especially given that roof rats enter homes through pipes and drains.

Roof rats can also widen cracks and holes that are the size of a nickel,resulting in even wider cracks. This is dangerous, especially if the cracks are in the weight-bearing parts of a home.

Roof Rats Carry Life-Threatening Illnesses

Beyond the threats to a home’s structure are the health risks associated with a roof rat infestation. Based on recent reports and findings, roof rats can carry the following life-threatening illnesses:

Cytomegalovirus
Leptospirosis
Tularemia
Hantavirus

How to Determine the Presence of Roof Rats

There are several signs of roof rat activity you need to be on the lookout for. Here are the most common telltale signs that you have a roof rat infestation in your home:

Rat droppings
Roof debris
Squeaking noises behind walls
Damaged electrical wiring
Partly chewed objects in corners, basements, attics, or any area with low human traffic

The presence of any or all of the abovementioned is a sign that you might have a roof rat infestation.

How to Remove Roof Rats in Four Easy Steps

Here are four easy steps to take to get rid of roof rats (and other rodent pests). Tap the plus sign for details for each step.

Step 1: Declutter

Remove clutter like old boxes, garbage cans, tires, and other neglected objects that lie against walls or pipes. Simply doing this will reduce the risks of roof rats turning your home into theirs. Also, you’ll be able to inspect for other signs of roof rat activity by performing this step.

Step 2: Seal or Plug Holes

Inspect the following areas for holes:

Walls
Pipes
Bathrooms
The attic and the basement
Your storage shed or garage

If you see any holes, plug them or seal them immediately. Roof rats can take advantage of even small openings. By sealing holes, you’ll be keeping roof rats away.

Step 3: Seal and Secure Your Garbage

Four legged pests and other rodents scavenge in garbage bins for whatever they can eat. Any unsealed garbage receptacle is an open invitation for roof rats. To keep roof rats from tampering with your garbage and entering your home, ensure that your garbage cans have lids that shut tightly.

Step 4: Trim Branches and Other Vegetation

Trimming branches, especially citrus tree branches, can prevent roof rats and other rodents from flocking to your premises. It’s also a good idea to remove plants that can harbor rodents and other pests.

After trimming vegetation, clean up the trimmings and dispose of them in a secure garbage receptacle.

Choosing Pest Control Products from a Company that Knows How to Get Rid of Roof Rats

Getting rid of roof rats is simple. It can be even simpler with the right traps and baits. Let us help you take control of your pest control with the right traps and baits for roof rats.

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