Fruit Trees and Roof Rats: An Overlooked Problem
Many homeowners in South Florida have fruiting trees in their yards. These can include your basic apple trees or common citrus trees like oranges and lemons, but also some other semi-tropical fruits that thrive in warmer climates like mangoes, papayas, guavas, etc. Although these are wonderful additions to overall landscaping and lawn management, these fruit trees can pose an often overlooked problem, particularly later in the year during fall and early winter. We’re talking about roof rats, also known in Florida as “fruit rats.”
Roof rats in Florida like the taste of fresh seasonal fruit just as much as humans, if not more. As such, the fruiting trees can attract this specific type of rodent pest as the fruiting season peaks in the fall and into early winter. The fruits easily drop to the ground, or can drop onto roofs and collect in gutters. These rodents are excellent climbers and burrowers. Once they start exploring for food, it’s not too long before they also find a nice cozy place to enjoy their snack and nest. Inside your home! You can now see why they’re called Roof Rats.
But don’t you worry, because in this blog post, we’ll cover some basic tips to help deal with and proactively prevent roof rat issues that fruit trees can contribute to.
Tip #1: Prune Your Fruit Trees Regularly
The first thing homeowners can do to help prevent roof rat issues from their fruit trees is to prune them regularly. Roof rats can use branches that extend from the tree to over the roof or other parts of the home as a “bridge” and use that pathway to invade your home.
A good rule of thumb is to keep the canopy of the fruit tree 5-6 feet away from your roof or gutter lines, fences, utility lines, etc. -anything that extends those natural bridges from the outdoors to the indoors. If the canopy is particularly dense, take some time to thin it out. This will not only increase the aesthetics of the tree, but also make it harder for roof rats and other pests to get into your home. You can prune trees at any time of the year, but the best time to do this is very late in Winter or early spring, before they have woken up from a period of dormancy.
Tip #2: Install Rat Guards On Tree Trunks
Rat guards are pieces of sheet metal or other types of flashing that can be installed around the circumference of tree trunks. They serve to keep tree rats and other critters from crawling up the height of the tree. Installation recommendations usually suggest that you place them 2-3 feet off the ground. These aren’t a cure-all solution, but roof rat guards help serve a role as part of an integrated pest management philosophy.
Tip #3: Clean Up Fallen Fruit Promptly and Regularly
Another common-sense approach that homeowners can take is to regularly clean up any fruit that has fallen from the trees. Whether on the ground, a roof, or within gutters, if you take time to remove the food source that attracts roof rats, it will go a long way toward managing their presence and numbers. If you see signs of bite marks or gnawing on the fallen fruit, this is even more evidence that pests have been feeding on the fruit, and a clean-up is in order.
Tip #4: Eliminate Other Outdoor Food Sources
Besides the fruit itself, there are other common types of overlooked food sources that might be contributing to a roof rat problem. These include unsecured bird food, pet food, trash cans with open or unsecured lids, or even compost/brush piles. We’ve discussed in other blog posts the importance of regular yard cleanups as part of integrated pest management techniques, and the same advice applies here. Take proactive steps to remove or secure common food attractants and pest problems are greatly reduced.
Tip #5: Secure Common Entry Points
Roof rats will typically transition from yard to tree to roof to home. Since many rodents can squeeze through holes as small as a coin, you have to make sure that common entry points have been checked for gaps or cracks. This includes places like attic vents, rooflines, eaves, gaps where utility lines enter the home, siding, soffits and fascia, and eaves. As part of regular yard inspections and clean-ups (see tips above), take a few minutes to inspect the perimeter of your home for sneaky entry points. Use sealants like caulk or other suitable materials to close the pests out.
Tip #6: Use Bait and Traps Strategically
Bait traps also have their place as part of an integrated pest management approach. But they need to be placed carefully, where they will not be regularly encountered by children or your pets. If you want some helpful tips on how to do this, here’s a YouTube video for those inclined toward DIY. However, if you are ever in doubt about how to place traps appropriately, it’s recommended that you call a professional, ideally one who has experience offering home rodent control services in southeast Florida. Here at Nozzle Nolen, we have decades of such experience, so you can always get in contact with us to schedule an inspection.
Conclusion: Roof Rat and Rodent Control Requires Ongoing Diligence
As highlighted with all of the tips above, the most proactive and comprehensive approaches towards managing roof rats require multiple lines of defense. Tree pruning, yard cleanups, food attractant removals, entry point sealing, and ongoing monitoring are all critical. When in doubt, consult professionals well-versed and experienced in dealing with these particular types of rodents.
For more information, see our Ultimate Florida Rat Guide or this excellent overview on roof rats from the University of Florida.
