Roof Rat Control: Identification, Risks & Green Elimination Methods

Roof rats (Rattus rattus) are arboreal rodents nesting in attics, palms, dense vegetation, and upper structures. In Florida and warm climates, they're a persistent threat to homes and health.

Signs of Infestation

• Scratching/gnawing in attic or walls (especially night)
• Hollowed citrus fruit on ground
• Droppings: spindle-shaped, ~1/2 inch, pointed ends
• Gnaw marks on wiring, wood, pipes, food packaging
• Greasy rub marks along travel routes
• Nests in insulation, stored items, debris piles

Why They're Dangerous

• Fire risk: chewed electrical wiring
• Disease: leptospirosis, salmonellosis, rat-bite fever, murine typhus
• Parasites: fleas, mites, ticks (vectors for other pathogens)
• Rapid reproduction: 4–6 litters/year, 5–8 pups each

Why Green Professional Control?

Snap traps and poisons pose risks to children, pets, and non-target wildlife. Secondary poisoning kills owls, hawks, cats. Modern green rodent control uses:

• Exclusion: sealing all entry points >1/4 inch with durable materials
• Trapping: humane, targeted, no toxins
• Habitat modification: remove ivy, trim palms, secure trash, elevate storage
• Monitoring: tamper-resistant stations with non-toxic tracking bait

Comprehensive Service

A quality company inspects, excludes, traps, sanitizes, and follows up—guaranteeing results. Don't wait for attic damage or health scares. Act at first sign.