Roof Rat Burrow

These rats are about 16 inches in length including the tail and grayish brown in color.

Roof rat burrow.

Roof rats are a health hazard being one of the oldest transmitters of diseases. One of the two species of rats that live near people is a burrower. Typical rat burrow the first distinct sign of a rat hole is the size of the entrance. When foraging outdoors roof rats prefer yards with fruit or nut bearing trees.

The entrance will be roughly 2 4 inches in diameter and smooth and compacted from the rodents going in and out of the burrow. Pet and laboratory rats are a variety of norway rats. Roof rats also called black rats prefer to nest far above ground yet will dig holes in the ground when other homes aren t available. Rat burrows usually contain a main entrance and 1 or 2 exit holes away from the main entrance.

Check along walls and grass for runways. Roof rats get ferocious and tend to bite or scratch when threatened or cornered. Rats create underground pathways or burrows from their nest to food sources and to escape predators. Check along walls and grass for runways.

Rat burrows usually contain a main entrance and 1 or 2 exit holes away from the main entrance. These burrows are often located under bushes or other types of dense vegetation. Norway rats like to live at ground level or underground so they commonly dig holes. Major cities like chicago have started utilizing this approach by filling the entrance of the burrow with dry ice.

From rat bites and scratches to saliva and urine rats can cause many diseases. Once you have identified that you have roof rats you can work to eliminate rats from your property in the following ways. Burrows in the ground are a good indication of norway rats. In homes they can be found in attics wall voids and other elevated areas including roofs.

The norway rat digs tunnels to nest because it prefers to be on ground level. These bites or scratches can cause what is known as rat bite fever or even tetanus. Roof rats are darker in color and better climbers so they typically nest above the ground. As the dry ice melts it releases large volumes of carbon dioxide which fills the burrow and suffocates the rats.

They can also chew through electrical wires water pipes and cause other damage to your home. However in a hot dry environment roof rats burrow in shallow cavities beneath concrete slabs sidewalks or tree roots. If residents find a rat burrow near the home it most likely belongs to a norway rat not a roof rat. This sets them apart from their burrowing or nesting counterparts who are more likely to be found in basements.

Roof rats can be dangerous they carry disease. You ll also notice fresh dirt just out of the entrance in a fan shape created when the rodents excavate dirt from the hole.