Roof Rat

Category:

Actual Size: 13 to 15” long including the tail

Characteristics: Slender. Typically grayish to dark gray to black.

Habits: Prefer high areas and build their nests off the ground by climbing canopies and vines.

  • Also known as the “black rat” or “ship rat”.
  • Has a very long tail that is longer than the entire length of their body.
  • Prefer to nest above the ground, such as in trees or attics.


Roof Rats in San Angelo

Roof rats mainly live in the Southeastern U.S., like Texas, and the coastal parts of Washington, Oregon, and California. They’re a big issue there. Roof rats are rodents that stick close to humans for their needs. When they get into homes, they hang out in attics, eaves, and roofs. You can tell them apart by looking at their tails. Roof rat tails are long, hairless, and bigger than their head and body combined, while other rats have shorter, hairy tails.

Roof Rat Habitat

Roof rats like to stay up high in places like tree tops, thick bushes, and climbing plants. They have special foot pads for gripping narrow branches, and their tail helps them balance when they’re high up. These rats start looking for food after sunset, using trees, wires, and fences to reach attics, storage spaces, and piles of wood. They’re active at night, and if you hear quick movements in the attic during the night, it could mean you have roof rats in your home.

Roof Rat Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Roof rats can carry many diseases, including Salmonella, leptospirosis, and rat-bite fever. They spread these diseases when they look for food and contaminate human, pet, and livestock food. Roof rats eat both plants and animals, and they really like citrus fruits. They’re also attracted to pet food, birdseed, meat, and grease, and they can get into storage sheds and BBQs. Apart from spreading disease, roof rats can create big problems by nesting in walls and attics. They might chew on wires inside walls, which can start fires and damage your home.

If you have a roof rat infestation in your San Angelo property, always contact a licensed rodent control company.