Roof rats routinely travel up to 300 feet for food. They often can be seen at night running along overhead utility lines or fence tops. They have an excellent sense of balance and use their long tails to steady themselves while traveling along overhead utility lines. They move faster than Norway rats and are very agile climbers, which enables them to quickly escape predators.

Given their history of causing damage (gnawing through wiring, food contamination, etc.) and health problems (vectors for salmonella, murine typhus, etc.), it is important that homeowners understand how to identify roof rats and businesses understand how to protect themselves from these costly pests.

Habitat/Harborage

• Specializes in climbing
• Can enter structures through trees, power lines
• Dwells in areas off the ground like attics, wall voids, hollow trees, vine-covered fences

Feeding Habits

• Has a preference for the sweetness of fruit
• However, will feed on anything, including pet food
• Needs water everyday

Protection

• Seal openings greater than ¼” to exclude mice and ½” to exclude rats
• Use hardware cloth to seal open vents, especially in crawl spaces, attics, and roofs
• Eliminate waste piles outside of home
• Make sure garbage containers are sealed tightly
• Eliminate potential food sources like left over pet food and grains from bird feeders
• Trim vegetation to prevent from becoming overly dense