Learn quick facts about Roof Rats and how they react to exclusion efforts from our video
When Sealing Works…But Things Seem To Get Worse
It’s a confusing but quite common experience for South Florida homeowners. They seal holes and gaps in their home, expecting their roof rat problem to disappear. Then, the roof rat activity actually seems to get worse, not better. This experience can be confusing, for sure, but it’s a predictable and ultimately temporary phase of an effective rodent control plan. You can think of it (and call it) the “second wave”: increased rodent visibility that’s caused by displacement, not a surge in population. In this blog post, we’ll explain why this “second wave” happens, how long it lasts, and what steps homeowners can take to actually stop roof rats for good!
What Are Roof Rats – And Why Are They So Common In South Florida?
Roof rats are a species of rat that’s very common in South Florida and other tropical to semi-tropical regions. These are different from the Norway rat or your common house mouse. They’re very agile climbers that will often prefer elevated nesting sites. In Florida, they’re very common in neighborhoods with:
- Fruiting trees
- Palm trees
- Dense landscaping
- Older roofs and soffits
The University of Florida describes roof rats as good climbers and swimmers that thrive around fruit trees and elevated structures. They like to feed on the fruit from trees, whether they’re in the tree, have fallen to the ground, or have collected on a nearby rooftop. Once on a roof, these rats can find entry points into the structure, where they might build nests for their litters.
Why Roof Rat Activity Often Increases After Sealing Entry Points
When you think about it for a moment, the increase in rat visibility and activity after sealing off entry points makes sense. If they were inside when the entries were sealed, they are now stuck inside, with their access to preferred food sources cut off. If they were outside, their nesting route was disrupted.
The roof rats that already live near your home don’t suddenly disappear upon exclusion work. They’re natural foragers, climbers, and explorers, so they will search aggressively for new entry or exit points. This means you’re more likely to hear rat scratching or scuttling from inside the home or increased sightings of them outside and around the home. While this may instinctively feel like it made the problem worse, it’s actually a sign that the exclusion steps worked.
The “Second Wave” Explained: Displacement, Not Population Growth
The familiar but frustrating “second wave” is a short-term spike in noticeable roof rat activity, as the rats have been displaced from their nesting spots or familiar routines. After exclusion work, it’s not uncommon for rats to:
- Move to adjacent rooflines or other nearby structures (fencing, sheds, pergolas, etc.)
- Move into attics they can still access
- Move into nearby trees
While homeowners may feel like they’re suddenly seeing or hearing roof rats everywhere now, the underlying colonies are finite in size and haven’t grown. But pressure from the existing rats will temporarily increase once access and travel routes are cut off. This short video segment from local news station WPTV explains why rodent activity can increase after exclusion work.
Can Sealing Entry Points Trap Rats Inside?
If done improperly, it’s a possibility. This is why DIY exclusion work is not often recommended by professionals. Homeowners always run the risk of permanently trapping rats and having them die inside the walls. But proper exclusion work done by trained professionals would never seal a home without first reducing the population. Professional methods account for:
- Existing rodent occupants inside the home
- Entry and escape routes
- Ongoing monitoring and follow-up visits
Why Trapping And Monitoring Are Musts After Exclusion
Sealing entry and exit points alone isn’t sufficient and will not remove rats that are already on your property. This is why trapping is a must-do next step after the exclusion work has been completed. This will help reduce pressure on the newly sealed structures from nearby rat populations and prevent rats from finding alternative entry points. After trapping, ongoing monitoring will ultimately confirm when the rat activity is genuinely declining. Experts at the University of Florida recommend combining exclusion protocols with trapping and sanitation processes.
Fruit Trees & Roof Rats: Why Activity Clusters After Exclusion
The fruit trees that are very common in South Florida neighborhoods provide roof rats with food sources, shelter, and elevated travel routes. After nearby homes have had entry points sealed off, it’s very common for local roof rat populations to retreat to fruit trees such as:
- Citrus trees (orange, lemon, lime)
- Mango trees
- Avocado trees
- Palm trees
This is why roof rat activity can seem to shift, rather than fully stop, after exclusion work has been completed on the home. Our prior roof rat prevention guide provides guidance for fruit tree heavy properties.
How Long Does The “Second Wave” Last?
The “second wave” of increased roof rat activity will generally last a few weeks, depending on factors like:
- Total local roof rat population
- Food source availability
- Trapping frequency and intensity
Without proper follow-ups and monitoring, roof rats can adapt, explore, and later re-enter homes. The persistence of these particular rodents is not to be underestimated. The warm sub-tropical climate of Florida provides an environment that supports year-round roof rat populations, as this helpful article from wildlife experts explains. But with proper follow-up processes, the roof rat sightings and activity will decline over time.
South Florida Reality Check: Roof Rats Don’t Respect Property Lines
Another important consideration for homeowners is that, while your neighbors might understand and respect property lines, roof rats will surely not. Exclusion work for one home may inadvertently push roof rat populations to nearby homes and properties. Rats will easily move between different rental units, homes, streets, and even neighborhoods.
This is why some Florida news teams have recently reported that homeowners across the state are reporting similar levels of pressure from roof rats. Because of this, exclusion and trapping work best as part of area-wide pressure management, rather than one-off fixes. Communication with nearby neighbors and town officials is recommended.
Professional Rodent Control: Doing Exclusion The Right Way
A trained rodent control professional will know the proper sequence of steps, which generally are:
- Inspect
- Reduce population (trapping)
- Exclusion work
- Follow-ups w/ ongoing monitoring
Professionals will also understand the common displacement behaviors of roof rats, anticipate their next steps or appearance spots, and plan accordingly. Do-it-yourself (DIY) approaches, while admirable, often skip or underestimate the application of specific steps. Here at Nozzle Nolen, we have decades of experience with local roof rats and provide rodent control with exclusion strategies as part of our residential pest control programs. You can count on our experienced technicians to tackle the problem and follow up until the job is done.
The Second Wave Means You’re Close – Not Starting Over
Remember, it’s not uncommon for roof rat sightings and activity to increase after sealing off entry points in your home. This signals displacement and disruption, not actual population growth or exclusion failures. With the proper monitoring and follow-ups, roof rat populations will decline.
Be patient, and whenever in doubt, seek professional guidance from a professional pest control company. You can always visit the Nozzle Nolen website to schedule a free pest inspection and consultation for your home today.
