How to deal with roof rats in your Phoenix home

Rats aren’t just a problem in your yard or garage. Roof rats can reach the upper levels of your home and invade it. These rats are expert jumpers that can easily get onto gutters and rooftops. Once they’re up there, they can make their way into your attic. Since roof rats can spread disease and cause damage, you’ll need help from a professional pest elimination company in Phoenix to remove them.

Identifying Roof Rats

How can you tell if you have roof rats in your home? Adults can measure up to 13-18 inches long, including their tail. These rats have big ears, a pointed snout, and smooth, black or dark brown fur.

You can also identify these rats based on where you see them. Unlike mice and Norway rats, roof rats don’t spend much time on the ground. You’re likely to spot them outside in trees, tall shrubs, and on rooftops. When they’re inside, you might see (or hear!) them in your attic.

Think Twice About Using Traps or Poison

Setting out traps may seem like a good way to get roof rats out of your Phoenix home. However, you have to set these up very carefully for them to work. Keep in mind that traps are dangerous for pets and kids. This means they have to be set up in out-of-the-way areas that only rats can reach. You’ll need to check the traps frequently.

If you’re thinking about using poison, remember that the rats may die before they leave your home. Then you’ll be dealing with foul odors and rat removal. Poison is also dangerous for pets and kids. Coming into contact with rats is one way any disease they’re carrying can be transmitted; so you need to use extreme caution before handling a dead rat or cleaning up their feces or urine.

The professional rat control experts at Budget Brothers Termite and Pest Elimination can safely eliminate your rat problem, without your involvement.

Preventing Future Roof Rats

Once your rats are removed, there are a few things you can do to prevent them from coming back.

Eliminate Food Sources

Roof rats are drawn to homes that provide them with easy food sources. This can mean pet food left outdoors, bird seed feeders, or leftover food in open garbage cans. Getting rid of these food sources helps discourage roof rats from coming near your home. Here are a few tips:

• Bring pet food inside at night.
• Store birdseed in airtight containers.
• Close your trash can lids tightly.

While getting rid of food sources can help prevent roof rats from invading, this won’t stop any that are already in your home. If you already have these rats, Budget Brothers Termite and Pest Elimination can get them out of your home.

Trim Vegetation

Since roof rats can climb and jump, trimming trees and other vegetation can make it harder for them to enter your home. Make sure tree branches and shrubs aren’t close to your home’s exterior. Otherwise, these rats can use them as jumping points to reach your roof.

In addition to trimming trees and shrubs, you should also get rid of brush or wood piles in your yard. Rats can hide in these piles during the day. At night, they can leave them and make their way to your home for food. When a Budget Brothers Termite and Pest Elimination professional comes to your Phoenix home, they can provide you with advice on how to make your yard unattractive for roof rats.

Ready to eradicate roof rats permanently? Call Budget Brothers Termite and Pest Elimination today for pest control in Phoenix and the surrounding cities.