Roof Rat

The roof rat is the worst and most abundant rodent in Florida. Some people refer to them as ‘fruit rats’. Including the tail, their sleek gray bodies are normally 12” to 14” long. They can sometimes be black with a gray underbelly, or gray with a light gray underbelly, or brown with a white or cream underbelly.

Roof rats are nocturnal creatures and spend most days hiding away in secluded dark places. Here in Florida, during the citrus season (September through March), they seem to increase in number because they are out partaking in the fruit harvest.

Roof rats are attracted to garbage, fruit and nut trees, bird feeders, bird seed, and any place that can offer them food.

Roof rats are usually able to find a food source in just about any human environment. They will rummage through garbage and rubbish, climb fruit trees, and get into buildings for food. They like to nest high in trees, on woodpiles and plants, and in attics. They are good climbers and very few obstacles stop them. Roof rats are arboreal which means they like to nest above ground (palm trees, etc).

Roof rats are very destructive. Like all rodents, they have a need to constantly chew to keep their incisors from getting too long. Once they enter into buildings they go ‘up’ into the attic and along the way the will chew duct work, electrical cords and anything else tasty that they encounter.

One of the major dangers of having them in your home is the possibility of a house fire. Many house fires that are deemed undetermined are said to most likely be the result of a rodent chewing through and damaging electrical wires causing a fire.