Rodent entry elimination: We see many attempts by handymen, pest control companies, and Washtenaw County, Michigan rodent extraction companies that do not include the removal of any roofing material. Often the prevention includes the emptying of a can of foam into the void. Without the removal of roofing material, there is no assurance that rodent entry will be eliminated. When we encounter these substandard attempts, we must first remove the previous application. When this includes foam, the extraction of the foam takes longer than the application of our wire prevention product.
Rodent elimination by those who are not insured exposes you, the Washtenaw County, Michigan homeowner, to unnecessary liabilities. It is in your best interest to request proof of insurance for worker’s compensation and public liability before work begins on your roof. It’s doubtful that you will find these companies or individuals carry such insurance. Those who do not often work in this environment typically cannot afford expensive roofing insurance.
Do rats destroy insulation in an attic?
Do rats bite humans in their sleep?
What is the best bait to trap a rat?
Clean Up and Damage Repair
Setting a trap to collect a few specimens may be the only sure way to identify the rat or rats involved.
Rats have been plaguing humans for centuries, famous for their continuously-growing sharp teeth, their desire for human food, their tendency to get into homes and buildings and create nests and their health problems - rats are the essence of a pest.
Rat Bite Fever - from the saliva of a rat, it comes from rats biting humans.
For further information see Norway Rats.
They move faster than Norway rats and are very agile climbers, which enables them to quickly escape predators.
Nests and Burrows - check behind shelves, boxes, behind the fridge, anywhere that a rat might like to use as a hiding space.
Its worldwide geographic distribution suggests that it is much more suited to tropical and semitropical climates.
Since roof rats rarely dig burrows, burrow fumigants are of limited use; however, if they have constructed burrows, then fumigants that are effective on Norway rats, such as aluminum phosphide and gas cartridges, will be effective on roof rats.
These techniques include improving sanitation for the affected location, eliminating hiding places, exclusion and may also include lethal methods such as traps and rodenticides.
Other indicators can include grease marks along surfaces as well as nests.
Generally, Roof rats stay within 100 miles inland.
What are Rats?
Types of Rats
Rat Infestation
Do rats chew on wires? Why?
They prefer to consume fruits (sometimes referred to as the “fruit rat” or “citrus rat”) and nuts, although roof rats are omnivorous and will feed on almost anything available to them.
Rats leave the attic during the night, to go out and forage for water and food.
Norway rats and the roof rats are very different in their habits, habitats and behavior, so the first requirement of a rat treatment program is to correctly identify the rat and develop a treatment plan that works for that species.
However, the complexity in mode of action of newer materials makes these classifications outdated.
Typically, 3 or more litters are produced annually.
Sometimes rats get into the kitchen area and feed on stored foods.
Roof rats are susceptible to all of the various anticoagulant rodenticides, but less so than Norway rats.
Females can breed year-round.
A preferred categorization would be “anticoagulants” and “non-anticoagulants” or “other rodenticides.
The common wooden snap traps that are effective for Norway rats are effective for roof rats.
Where an entire warehouse may be fumigated for insect control with a material such as methyl bromide, all rats and mice that are present will be killed.
Will a rat in the attic have a nest of babies?
Can rats hurt you?
Do rats have bones? How can they fit in such small holes?
Rat Diseases
Hantavirus - a potentially lethal virus if humans come in contact with rat urine or feces.
Rats that are captured should be humanely destroyed and not released elsewhere because of their role in disease transmission, damage potential, and detrimental effect on native wildlife.
It is unlikely, however, they will be any more effective for roof rats than for Norway rats.
Some of the more important diseases associated with rats include Rat-Bite Fever and Leptospirosis.
Rat removal expert’s rat control technicians are properly trained in how to get rid of rats and the elimination of rat problems using a variety of rat control techniques.
Bait stations are sometimes difficult to place for roof rat control because of the rodents’ overhead traveling characteristics.
Sounds Noises produced by scurrying rats, scratching in the walls or other noises from nest building may tip off the property owner to a rat problem.
Touch is an important sense in rats.
