Sneaky Roof Rat

Roof rats are excellent climbers hence the name.

Sneaky roof rat.

Most species of rat look similar and it can be difficult to tell between a roof rat and the common norway rat but there are some telltale ways to distinguish between the two. Roof rats are a very common rat in north america that live in walls ceilings and attics. Rats on the roof is never a good sign and while they may not be as noisy or as easy to spot as raccoons or larger animals spotting a rat on the roof is definitely a sign to be concerned about. Roof rats have smooth fur pointy noses and large dark eyes.

Roof rats also called black rats are one of the many rodents that might find their way inside your south carolina home this fall. Roof rats are smaller and darker. The roof rat is smaller than a norway rat growing to be between 6 and 8 inches in body length with an additional 6 to 8 inches in the tail. Its origins go to the tree forests of southeast asia and are adept for climbing vines wires and narrow ledges.

Adult roof rats measure 6 8 16 20 cm when combining their head and body length. Roof rats are long and thin rodents that have large eyes and ears a pointed nose and a scaly tail. Thus traps should be placed off the ground in the attic rafters of the garage on shelves and ledges. Since roof rats can enter through very small holes in the attic you can only catch them by sealing off the area where they are living and then trapping them.

Roof rats have soft and smooth fur that is typically brown with intermixed spots of black. Their undersides are often white gray or black. Their fur is usually a grey or black color. Roof rats get ferocious and tend to bite or scratch when threatened or cornered.

Sneaky rat roof rats without question the most common rat in florida is the roof rat. These rats are omnivores eating foliage like seeds leaves and stems in addition to small prey like birds and insects. It seems as though we have roof rats everywhere. I always laugh when someone calls creepy creatures termite and pest control describing hearing scratching and chewing in the ceiling.

From rat bites and scratches to saliva and urine rats can cause many diseases. Also known as black rats even though they vary in color roof rats are rodents that explore both indoors and outside and can be found on roofs in attics rafters the tops of trees and other high places around your home. These bites or scratches can cause what is known as rat bite fever or even tetanus. As its name indicates this rat is most likely to be found in higher places and upper levels of the home.

The roof rat also called gray bellied rat white bellied rat alexandrine rat black rat and ship rat.