Prevent Roof Rats From Invading Your Home With These Essential Tips

No homeowner wants to deal with the annoying nighttime sound of little feet scurrying around, hinting at the possibility of roof rats causing trouble above. To stop those pesky roof rats from crashing at your place, just keep your food locked up, seal off their secret entrances, and make sure to keep your property spick and span. These little critters can make a mess of your home and property in no time, so it's smart to spot the issue early. 

To figure out if those roof rats are hanging out around your place, just keep an eye out for some clear signals. Check for their dark droppings in the spots where they like to chill and listen for any late-night scratching or scurrying sounds. Also, watch for chew marks on wires, baseboards — pretty much anything. Look out for nests and greasy tracks along the walls. And don't forget to inspect your garden and trees for any damage. If your pets are acting weird or you actually spot a rat (whether dead or alive), then it's probably time to pull out your humane trap or call in a human pest professional. 

Lock up your trash in airtight containers so that rats can't sneak in for a midnight snack. And don't leave pet food or birdseed out overnight because that's like rolling out the red carpet for them. By nixing these food sources, you'll make your place less inviting to roof rats, pushing them to search for chow elsewhere and keeping your home rat-free. Inside your home, make sure your pantry items, grains, and pet food are all sealed up in containers to give those rats the cold shoulder. Keep things clean, too. Crumbs and spills might be tiny, but they're like a dinner bell for these critters. A spick-and-span house doesn't just keep roof rats away, it also makes your pad a less comfy spot for them to hang out. 

Lastly, roof rats aren't picky eaters and will chow down on anything that happens to be growing in your garden. Fruits, veggies, nuts, grains, seeds, tomatoes, citrus fruit, and corn don't stand a chance against these social pack animals. If you suspect rats are lurking nearby, keep your produce locked up tight by building some fences or other barriers to keep those hungry critters at bay.

To keep those pesky roof rats out of your house, start with a good and thorough inspection outside. Look around for any spots where these critters could sneak in, like up on the roof, around attic vents, in the eaves, near pipes and utility lines, down at the foundation, around windows and doors, and even in those soffits and fascia bits. After you've clocked any weak spots, grab some simple materials like steel wool that you can stuff into small holes, caulk to seal up gaps, and hardware cloth for the bigger openings. And don't forget to slap some vent covers over your attic vents so the rats can't get in that way. Also be sure to fix up any busted window or door screens while you're at it.

If you've got any bushes or tree branches hanging out too close to your house, call your local arborist so they can come give your tree a trim. Roof rats love using branches like they're highways to your roof. And finally, tidy up your yard by getting rid of clutter and debris, which can make great hiding spots for these furry intruders.

Unfortunately, if rats are infesting your home and other methods of trapping or repelling them aren't doing much, you might be forced to resort to poisoning. That said, you should only pull the poison card when you've tried everything else and/or the rats are causing a real threat to your health and safety. In these rare cases, start by talking to a pest control expert because they can check out how bad the rat situation really is and decide if poison really is necessary.

If you do end up going the poison route, it's all about being cautious. Keep that stuff locked up in special bait stations and put it in spots where kids, pets, and other critters can't get to it. Always keep an eye on them. Remember that using poison to deal with rats isn't the best idea in most scenarios because it causes the animal a great deal of suffering and is incredibly inhumane. Plus, it can also put the hurt on other beneficial animals, too, and do damage to the environment. So just allow them a bit of grace and don't go straight to full-blown annihilation. It's way better to go for friendlier methods like traps and keeping your home and surrounding area clean. If you're in a tough spot, talking to a pest expert is your best bet.