Roof Rats In Phoenix Arizona

It also has a dark scaly tail that measures longer than its entire head and body.

Roof rats in phoenix arizona.

A professional should be called to avoid disease and to ensure proper disposal said sage garvey director of technical. The first roof rat in phoenix was spotted in 2001. There have subsequently been confirmed sightings of the roof rat in phoenix tempe glendale paradise valley and glendale. The rat has been identified as the cause of the black plague during the middle ages.

The roof rat or rattus rattus has been one of the scourges of mankind for thousands of years. Gilbert and tempe are both in the top 5 for roof rats nationwide. They re a specialized rat that has adapted to the modern lifestyle of humans here in the desert. 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. Roof rats as the name implies make their nests in phoenix area attics. If you have roof rats or have seen roof rats in your neighborhood call the maricopa county environmental complaint line at 602 506 6616 or log your complaint at www maricopa gov envsvc. Roof rats fact sheet roof rats in the desert.

First appearing in phoenix in 2001 roof rats are relatively new to arizona. Live traps are not the smartest options for elimination of roof rats. They re also not even native to north america as they traveled on ships from europe hundreds of years ago. In recent years they again likely hitched a ride arriving in arizona by way of freight shipments.