Roof Rats in Prescott: How to Identify Them and What to Do

Roof rats have been spreading through the Phoenix area since they were first identified in a Phoenix neighborhood in 2001, according to the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. They do best in warm places with mature trees and fruit, so they are much less common in Prescott’s colder climate. If you think rats are already in your home, our rat control in Prescott service can confirm the species and remove them. But they can turn up, and they are often confused with the pack rats that are native here. Here is how to tell, and what to do.

How to identify a roof rat

• Size. A head and body about 5 to 7 inches long.
• Tail. Longer than the head and body combined, thin and scaly.
• Ears and eyes. Large, nearly hairless ears and prominent eyes.
• Build. Slender and agile, usually dark gray to black.

Compare that with a pack rat, which has a furry tail and a white belly and feet, and a Norway rat, which is heavier with a shorter tail and prefers to nest low, in burrows. If you are finding stick nests under decks or in engine bays, it is almost certainly a pack rat. See our pack rat removal page.

Signs of roof rats

• Dark, banana-shaped droppings about a quarter to half an inch long
• Scratching and running in the attic, ceiling or roofline at night
• Fruit on trees hollowed out or chewed while still hanging
• Rats running along fences, utility lines and tree branches at dusk
• Dark grease marks along rafters and beams
• Nests in attics, overhead garage storage and dense vegetation

Why roof rats become a problem quickly

The University of Arizona reports that roof rats can have 5 to 8 young per litter and 4 to 5 litters a year, and can travel several hundred feet in a single night. A couple of roof rats in the attic can become a serious problem within a season.

Roof rat control, step by step

1. Confirm it is a roof rat. Pack rats and roof rats need different approaches.
2. Remove food sources. Pick ripe fruit and clean up fallen fruit, store bird seed and pet food in sealed containers, and keep garbage covered.
3. Cut off the highways. Trim tree limbs that overhang the roof, and prune trees so branches don’t touch fences, as the University of Arizona recommends.
4. Move firewood and clutter. Stack firewood at least a foot away from walls and about 18 inches off the ground.
5. Trap along their routes. Roof rats are wary of new objects. Pre-baiting traps without setting them for a few days helps rats get used to them before you set them.
6. Seal the building. Close openings half an inch or larger with durable materials such as steel mesh, sheet metal or concrete.
7. Clean up safely. Soak droppings and nests with disinfectant before removing them. See our droppings cleanup guide.

A note on poison bait

Anticoagulant baits need to be available for at least 10 days to work, according to the University of Arizona, and rats that eat them often die in walls or attics where they cause odor problems. Bait can also harm pets and wildlife. If bait is needed, it should be in locked, tamper-resistant stations outdoors. In Arizona, rodent control done for hire is regulated by the Arizona Department of Agriculture’s Pest Management Division.

Getting help with roof rats in Prescott

If you have found signs of rats in your attic or roofline, our rat control service identifies the species, removes them and seals every opening. Start with a free rodent inspection, and see our guide to rats in the attic for more on attic problems.