Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Roof Rats

Have you ever heard scurrying in your walls? Ever gone up to the attic in December to find a nest of rats living in your wrapping paper box? How about opening up your pantry to find droppings, or finding the fruit on your tree hollowed out?

You are not alone. Many people have had this problem, specifically with Roof Rats. They are the most common and disease-ridden pests in the state of Florida. Their long, scaly, black tails and their sleek body identify them.

They usually only come out at night, at the time of year when fruit begins to ripen. Along with fruit, Roof Rats consume anything from dog food to your own pantry items, and can chew their way into your house through soffits, hollow walls, insulation, wires, pipes, and any holes that may exist.

Along with destroying your home, Roof Rats are host to a plethora of diseases. If a rat bites a person, they could contract Rat Bite Fever, which shows symptoms of the flu, and could be fatal. Hantavirus is contracted by stirring up the urine and droppings of a rat, resulting in fever, body aches, chills, and stomach problems. If the urine enters a minor cut, a person could contract Weil’s Disease, resulting in fever and kidney failure. Rats are also known to carry lime disease, which is contracted by tick bites, causing skin lesions, fever, and headaches.

Roof Rats can produce a litter once or twice a month, with about eight to nine pups each time. Roof Rats are abundant and the problems associated with them are serious, and that is why Nuisance Wildlife Relocation is here to help you.

The method of rodenticide is not usually the safest way to deal with this problem, considering the danger of rats dying in the walls. At Nuisance Wildlife Relocation, we first provide an exclusion inspection. We will completely inspect the interior and exterior of the structure, followed by a full estimate with an explanation of the conditions of the problem. All openings will then be sealed to prevent any further rodent infestations. Traps are set, and the rodents are removed leaving you with a rat-free, disease-free, and odor-free home.

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