Roof Rats In Louisiana

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.

Roof rats in louisiana.

How to prevent a roof rat infestation. To make an ideal home roof rats need food water and a cozy nesting site so clean out wood piles rake up fallen vegetation and fruit and do not leave pet food or water outside especially overnight. Roof rats or rattus linnaeus are a type of commensal rats who are called so because of their inclination to inhabit the upper portions of any building. In the wild roof rats inhabit shrubs trees and dense vegetation.

To prevent rats from entering your home seal up any holes or cracks larger than a quarter. The roof rat s adult head and body length is about 13 to 18 inches long including its tail. Roof rats are long and thin rodents that have large eyes and ears a pointed nose and a scaly tail. Roof rats become sexually mature between two and five months producing four to six litters per year that consist of six to eight young each.

They may enter homes through trees close to windows or eaves. The common lifespan of these rodents is about one year. The roof rat has a pointed nuzzle and ears that are long enough to be pulled over its eyes. Roof rats can be cautious.

Rattus alexandrinus geoffroy has an agouti brownish streaked with gray back and gray belly. Rattus rattus linnaeus is black with a gray belly. Roof rats usually live and nest above ground in shrubs trees and dense vegetation. In buildings they are most often found nesting and hiding out in attics walls false ceilings and cabinets.

These rats are omnivores eating foliage like seeds leaves and stems in addition to small prey like birds and insects. The tail of the roof rat is about 4 3 inches on average and black with fine. Louisiana roof rats identification three subspecies have been named and these are generally identified by their fur color. Their undersides are often white gray or black.

Norway rats create nesting burrows outside along building foundations beneath wood piles or piles of debris in gardens and in fields. Roof rats sometimes called black rats are superb climbers that tend to nest above ground. And 3 the fruit rat r. 1 the black rat r.

The roof rat appears sleek and graceful. They can access the upper part of any building because they are excellent climbers and can climb up wires vines and even thin or narrow ledges. Adult roof rats measure 6 8 16 20 cm when combining their head and body length. Roof rats have soft and smooth fur that is typically brown with intermixed spots of black.

2 the alexandrine rat r. In domestic environments they seek out secure elevated places such as attics walls sheetrock ceilings and cabinets. The rat zapper should be placed close to a roof rat nest or in their runways said ernie henson president and owner of stormin norman termite and pest control.