Roof Rats In Phoenix 2017

If your neighbor down the street has roof rats they can quickly become your problem too.

Roof rats in phoenix 2017.

The first roof rat in phoenix was spotted in 2001. As roof rats are traveling around looking for food and shelter you and your neighbors may be laying out the welcome mat inviting these rodents into your home. Why are they so common in the phoenix metro. For example there are large roof rat infestations throughout tempe citrus groves of north east mesa arcadia and other parts of the phoenix area where there are mature trees.

Roof rats as the name implies make their nests in phoenix area attics. A roof rat s range is approximately a 200 300 foot radius from the nesting area. Gilbert and tempe are both in the top 5 for roof rats nationwide. Also known as a black rat or ship rat this species rattus rattus became a common sight and a nuisance in phoenix area neighborhoods in the early 2000s.

There are many reasons for this but one of the primary ones is that the citrus trees in many backyards in the valley provide a consistent food source for rats while attics are generally undisturbed by local. You will notice you have rats either by spotting one seeing droppings or if you have citrus fruit trees partially eaten fruit on the ground. Roof rats fact sheet roof rats in the desert. Roof rats rattus rattus sometimes called black rats fruit rats or house rats are aerial very agile climbers and usually live and nest above ground in shrubs trees and dense vegetation such as ivy.

Phoenix s leading local news. Critter ridder quickly and accurately diagnosed the problem and found how the rats were getting into the house. They are usually dark in color slender and 7 8 inches long. It also has a dark scaly tail that measures longer than its entire head and.

What is a roof rat. They re a specialized rat that has adapted to the modern lifestyle of humans here in the desert. How to help avoid the neighborhood roof rats. And last updated 6 31 am mar 22 2017 several ahwatukee neighborhoods are striking back against vermin invaders.

Roof rats have a gathering in ahwatukee man s yard. Angela hart said she caught at least 20 roof rats in her lakewood yard. Your best defense against roof rats is to learn what they are assess your risk and then learn how to stop them. Roof rats are long and thin rodents that have large eyes and ears a pointed nose and a scaly tail.

Pack rats are very common throughout the valley with higher populations being found in homes and businesses that are next to desert areas. 2017 top roof rat cities. Roof rats can access your attic and living space through holes on the exterior of your home of only half an inch in diameter. The rats initially got into the attic then a crawl space and eventually the house.

There have subsequently been confirmed sightings of the roof rat in phoenix tempe glendale paradise valley and glendale.