Groups keyboard shortcuts have been updated
Dismiss
See shortcuts

Roof Rats

10 views
Skip to first unread message

Sharin Manion

unread,
Dec 23, 2024, 12:08:09 PM12/23/24
to CGNE
Naively, I thought, as I have a flat roof, I wouldn’t get these creatures in my roof but I have them now.  The technician who inspected my house said that if a house didn’t have them now, they will in the future.  Things he told me that I wish I had known earlier.

1.  You will probably get roof rats so prepare now to make it harder and perhaps discourage them enough to move on.  

2.  They only need a dime size hole or small gap in anything to get into the roof area.  Some ways to know if you have roof rats are partially eaten fruit on the ground, grey smear going up to a place on your roof, or scritching notices coming from your ceiling.

3.  They chew everything.  I’m concerned about my cloth covered wiring in the roof area.

4. Use spray foam (that expands and hardens) to fill in holes and use clear outdoor caulk for the gaps.  These creatures can chew through these, but you will notice when that happens and can respond.  If you have them or think you might,  wait until late afternoon to apply these products as the rats normally go out to forage in the afternoon returning in the evening.

5.  They get used to noises, so pounding on the wall becomes less scary every time I do it.  

6.  Roof rats can jump ~3feet, can run on wires for a very short distance.  Trim back trees and all bushes 3’ feet from the roof.  They can climb brick, stucco but not metal siding.  They cannot climb the underside of your eaves.  They can climb up Christmas decoration wiring.

7.  If you have citrus trees, they will eat the fruit on the ground.

8.  Don’t leave dog food or water outside when you don’t have to.

9.  A removal contract costs between $1,000 to 2,000 a year.  Rats are all around, are prolific, so the contract will most likely be a yearly cost.
If you have an exterminator on contract, they will inspect your house for free.  They will point out where possible entry sites are. 

Out of concern for my neighbors, I made it a point to contact the houses near me.   One had these rats didn’t know they were a problem in the neighborhood as she is not on the list serve.  Two of my other neighbors had never heard of them - also not on the list serve.  And one had vaguely heard about them but didn’t think they were a problem here. Again, not on the list serve.

I think it would be very helpful if a flyer went out to all the homes so they could take precautions before they get a roof buddy.  Between hawks, cats and home owner knowledge, we might keep a bit of control over this invasion.

Sharin Manion
2209 E Silver St

Molly Knipe

unread,
Jan 2, 2025, 4:29:03 PMJan 2
to Sharin Manion, CGNE
This was so helpful, thank you for all of the information! 
Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 23, 2024, at 10:08 AM, 'Sharin Manion' via Campbell/Grant Neighborhood Association <CGNE-...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

Naively, I thought, as I have a flat roof, I wouldn’t get these creatures in my roof but I have them now.  The technician who inspected my house said that if a house didn’t have them now, they will in the future.  Things he told me that I wish I had known earlier.
--
Visit our web site at http://cgne-tucson.org/
View our calendar at https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=opa6vemh117bk2bdvcta1il38o%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/Phoenix
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Campbell/Grant Neighborhood Association" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to CGNE-Tucson...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/CGNE-Tucson/984BBFD7-D8C4-49FC-94C4-B7CE3441F161%40icloud.com.

Sharin Manion

unread,
Jan 2, 2025, 5:12:41 PMJan 2
to Molly Knipe, CGNE
I learned one more thing this week. I did have my roof inspected and the gentleman recommended putting a screen over all of my roof vents except the dryer vent. I did that and my house was quiet last night for the first time in weeks.
Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 2, 2025, at 2:29 PM, Molly Knipe <mollym...@gmail.com> wrote:

This was so helpful, thank you for all of the information! 

Kirsteen Anderson

unread,
Jan 2, 2025, 5:18:18 PMJan 2
to Sharin Manion, Molly Knipe, CGNE

Yes. I had all my roof vents screened, but we couldn’t do it while the rat was in residence in my bedroom ceiling, because if the rat died and rotted there, it would not be a pretty outcome. The rat I had sneered at all the traps the pest control company set – in fact it triggered one of the traps and took the food. These critters are smart!

 

Kirsteen E. Anderson

Editor & Writer

2620 N. Plumer Ave.

Tucson, AZ 85719

 

520-307-3679 (cell)

Kirst...@outlook.com

Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages