Roof rats, also known as black rats, are one of the most common rat species you’ll find in Alabama homes, and it’s important to know how to identify them.
Compared to larger brown rats, roof rats usually only grow up to eighteen inches in length including their tail, but those tails can be than their actual bodies. Their name comes from their excellent climbing abilities because these rodents won’t hesitate to scale the side of your home or use low-hanging tree branches to get inside via your roof.
Worried that you may be dealing with roof rats? Here’s what Alabama homeowners should know about the dangers that come with roof rats, how you can prevent them on your Alabama property, and what to do if you’re already struggling with an infestation.
Are Roof Rats Dangerous In Alabama?
Unfortunately, roof rats can be extremely dangerous in Alabama, especially as a health risk. Roof rats may spread several diseases through their urine and feces, including:
- Leptospirosis
- Salmonellosis
- Murine typhus
- Rat-bite fever
- Plague
- Trichinosis
- Toxoplasmosis
Not all rats carry these diseases, but every roof rat does have the potential to cause property damage. It’s not uncommon for roof rats to chew through the siding of your home to create holes big enough to get in, gnaw on wiring, or even create hiding spots in your wall voids.
Roof rats are excellent climbers, and they’re one of the trickier pests to prevent. They only need a hole the size of a quarter to climb through, and they may use low-hanging tree branches or vegetation near your home to climb into attics or other parts of your home.
How To Prevent Roof Rats In Alabama
Although they aren’t easy to prevent, there are a couple of ways to deter roof rats from getting inside your Alabama home. You can make it look less attractive to them, by taking the following steps:
- Seal potential entrances off your home, like tiny gaps and cracks, with a caulk sealant or a rodent-proof material like steel wool.
- Keep shrubs trimmed several feet away from your home if possible.
- Get rid of low-hanging tree branches that roof rats may use to get into your attic or onto your roof.
- If you have fruit trees near your home, regularly clean up any fallen fruits.
- Keep garbage cans tightly sealed and emptied regularly.
- If you have a chimney, use chimney caps to block off this entrance.
- Don’t leave food out in your home, and keep any leftovers in airtight plastic containers.
- Take care of excess moisture, like leaky pipes or flooded gutters, as soon as you notice them.
These steps will help minimize the risk of roof rats making their way into your Alabama home.
How To Deal With A Roof Rat Infestation In Alabama
Given the significant health and property damage risks that they pose, roof rats are one pest that you don’t want to battle on your own – but you can allow Havard Pest Control to win the war for you. With more than fifty years of service in the Alabama area, we’re no strangers to fighting off dangerous pests like the roof rat.
If you’ve discovered roof rats in your Alabama home or just suspect that you may have them, there’s no time to waste. Call us today at Havard Pest Control to find out about the next steps or to learn more about our rodent control services.