Roof rat

Roof rats are a type of rodent that can cause serious problems for homeowners and businesses. Luckily, these rats are not typically found in the Madison area like their cousins the Norway Rat. They are also known as black rats or ship rats, because they were introduced to new regions by ships in the past. Roof rats are not native to Madison, Wisconsin, but they can be found in some areas of the country where the climate is warmer and more humid.

Differing from their cousins the Norway Rat, Roof Rats have smooth brown or black-gray fur, with a lighter-colored underside. They have pointed noses, hairless ears, and large eyes. Their tails are scaly and naked, and always longer than their head and body combined. They are about 13 inches long, including the tail, and weigh about 8 ounces.

Roof rats are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plants and animals. They prefer fruits, nuts, seeds, and grains, but they will also feed on insects, snails, eggs, and small animals. They are very agile and can climb trees, fences, wires, and walls. They like to nest in high places, such as attics, ceilings, roofs, and eaves. They can also live in dense vegetation, such as ivy or palm trees.

Roof rats are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night. They are very social and live in colonies of up to 60 individuals, although it is often closer to between 5-10 rats indoors. They communicate with each other using sounds, smells, and body language. They have a keen sense of hearing, smell, and touch, but they are colorblind and have poor vision.

Roof rats can cause a lot of damage and health risks to humans and pets. They can gnaw on wires, pipes, insulation, wood, and other materials, creating fire hazards and structural problems. They can contaminate food and water sources with their droppings, urine, and saliva. They can also spread diseases and parasites, such as leptospirosis, salmonella, rat-bite fever, plague, typhus, fleas, mites, and ticks.

If you suspect that you have roof rats in your home or business, you need to act fast. Roof rats can reproduce quickly and infest your property in a short time. You need a professional pest control service that can identify the source of the infestation, eliminate the roof rats safely and effectively, and prevent them from coming back. Fortunately, roof rats aren’t usually found in the area, so if you see activity, its likely either Norway rats or mice. Give us a call at 608-228-8899 and let Kwik Kill Pest Control tackle your rodent issues.

Kwik Kill Services to Control Madison Area Rats

Additional Resources

https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1775-2018.pdf
https://ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/citrus/roof-rats/
https://icwdm.org/species/rodents/roof-rats/