Roof Rat Citrus Damage

Just thinking about it probably gives you the heebie jeebies.

Roof rat citrus damage. Step 1 in order to assess the severity of the rat problem and to get a better idea of where to bait and trap you will first need to perform a thorough inspection of the premises. By teri carnicelli the overabundance of citrus this winter and spring may seem like a happy circumstance for those who enjoy spending hours squeezing oranges and grapefruits or making tasty desserts with lemons and limes. According to the university of california statewide integrated pest management program roof rats are especially fond of avocados and citrus and often eat fruit that is still on the tree. As roof rats scavenge for sustenance indoors they contaminate food resulting in costly waste.

Rats are active throughout the year and mostly at night. Half eaten citrus around your home. Skittish smooth furred and not well adapted to cooler temperatures roof rats are often mistaken for house mice. One of the reasons that roof rats have flourished in the east valley is because of the prevalence of backyard fruit trees especially citrus trees.

The rats typically will target the lowest hanging fruit literally. What you ll want to look for are any signs that the rats are present including droppings tracks gnaw marks burrows runways and rodent sounds. Use a sheet metal or aluminum flashing that is at least 18 inches tall and wrap it around the base of the tree overlapping it by 2 or 3. You are pretty sure you saw a roof rat near your patio.

After harvest they damage fruit and nuts in bins by chewing them and leaving excrement. This provides the rats with a convenient food source close to warmth and shelter. You ve also seen some of the common signs of a roof rat infestation such as. Get rid of roof rats in four basic steps.

Like most other rodents they carry diseases that can be spread to humans. Health concerns include salmonellosis and hantavirus as well as lyme disease which can be carried by infected ticks in the pests fur. Though they may be cute these critters can cause major damage by chewing on housing materials and eating stored foods. Too much citrus draws in roof rats.

In late fall roof rats seek out warm nesting sites like the upper levels of your home or garage. Video of the day. Install rat guard around the trunks of the citrus trees. Learning how to permanently get rid of fruit rats is a must if you want to keep your home and produce as fresh and uncontaminated as possible.